Wolff turns bullish: Mercedes ‘clearly the second fastest team’

Toto Wolff, a man known for keeping his confidence under warps, showed some genuine excitement about Mercedes’ performance in the opening rounds of the 2025 F1 season.

Following a solid showing at the Chinese Grand Prix, where George Russell secured third place and rookie Kimi Antonelli climbed to sixth, Wolff insisted that the Brackley-based outfit has clearly established itself as “the second fastest team” on the grid, pointing to the shrinking gap to frontrunners McLaren as a sign of progress.

The season began promisingly for Mercedes in Australia, with Russell and Antonelli finishing third and fourth respectively, marking a double points haul.

The momentum carried into Shanghai, where the team added seven points in the Sprint on Saturday before delivering a solid result on Sunday.

Wolff was quick to acknowledge that Mercedes is in a much stronger position compared to previous seasons.

Mercedes Settling Into Their Groove

“I wouldn’t say we are in the hunt now – when you look at Piastri being in front, it is easier on the tyres and you can manage it,” Wolff said, referencing the McLaren driver’s win in China.

“But we are not far away, maybe the gap is a couple of tenths rather than the second it was in Melbourne.”

The progress is clear. With Russell just under two seconds behind Lando Norris in P2, Wolff was confident that the team’s improvement was on the right track.

“We are clearly the second fastest team today and that’s another solid result,” he added.

“George’s driving was a 10 out of 10, and I rarely give 10 out of 10 but he just extracted the maximum that was there today. And in so far, there are reasons to be excited about what the future brings.”

Stability and Progress

This year marks Mercedes' strongest start to a season since the introduction of the ground effect regulations in 2022. Wolff acknowledged that the car’s platform feels much more stable, and the team is making steady improvements.

“Yes, the platform is stabler, when we turn a screw on some sort of mechanical device, a wing – it does what we expected,” the Mercedes chief explained.

“We also have to be realistic that it is not where we want it to be. So we will be happy when we start winning races and fighting for championships, but there is no sense of entitlement – you have to work your way to that and this is the exciting journey that lies ahead.”

Wolff is keeping his expectations in check, but there's a definite sense of optimism in his words. Mercedes is climbing back to form, and the Austrian is determined to continue pushing the team toward success.

Tyre Management Key to Success

Another major factor in the 2025 season will be mastering tyre management. Wolff pointed out that handling the front tyres is a bit more challenging this year, but it’s a universal challenge that every team faces.

“I think we see that the fronts are a little bit sensitive and you need to handle them with care – that’s a bit different but it is the same for everyone,” he said.

“The race shows the C2, the hard, was rock solid and robust, a racing tyre that could do three quarters of the race.

“So we are learning race by race, test by test, and the ones who are going to have the fastest learning rate on how to exploit the tyres is going to come out the winner.”

A Star in the Making

Wolff also had high praise for Mercedes' rookie, Kimi Antonelli, whose impressive performance in China earned him the Driver of the Day accolade.

Despite significant floor damage early in the race, Antonelli showed remarkable resilience and maturity in holding onto his position.

“He got extensive floor damage, we don’t know why – maybe he ran over Charles' endplate, but he had like massive holes in the floor and titanium strips that were gone,” Wolff revealed.

“So, considering he had a car that was severely impaired, finishing eighth [which later became sixth], holding on to it, not complaining and just getting on with the job shows the potential and the maturity the young man has.”

It’s clear that Wolff sees big things ahead for Antonelli, who has impressed not only on the track but also with his composure under pressure.

As the 2025 F1 season gains momentum, Wolff's optimism and confidence will likely fuel further progress.

While Mercedes isn't quite in the hunt for the title yet, the signs are clear that they are well on their way to challenging for race wins and ultimately, championships in the near future.

• Read also: Wolff lauds Russell’s ’10 out of 10’ stellar drive in Shanghai

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