Andrew Shovlin has described Mercedes’ begin to the 2025 F1 season as “loads calmer than the previous couple of years”, highlighting the staff’s vital progress.
Mercedes have struggled to familiarize yourself with the bottom impact rules because the begin of 2022.
The eight-time F1 constructors’ champions picked up one victory throughout 2022 and 2023.
Whereas they slipped again to fourth in 2024, they managed 4 race wins.
The W15 (2024 automobile) was peaky, solely acting at low downforce tracks or cool monitor temperatures.
Its successor – the W16 – has been a constant performer to date in 2025, albeit slightly bit off McLaren in uncooked tempo phrases.
Talking in Friday’s FIA press convention, Shovlin mirrored on an encouraging begin for Mercedes this yr.
“Properly, it has been loads calmer than the previous couple of years, primarily as a result of the automobile is what we meant it to be,” Shovlin defined.
“It hasn’t actually bought the vices that we have had in a few earlier years and that is right down to doing good work over the winter. Good work final yr to try to perceive the issues.
“Up to now, we’ve not seen many circuits, nevertheless it’s labored nicely over those we now have and thru a variety of situations. So it is good.
“There’s clearly a niche to McLaren that we have to chip away at, however that appears extra like only a regular improvement race that we have to get caught into moderately than making an attempt to get on prime of any of the dealing with vices that we’ve had.”
George Russell “relaxed in his place”
With Lewis Hamilton leaving the staff on the finish of final yr to affix Ferrari, Russell is now Mercedes’ clear chief.
He’s began the season in spectacular style, scoring back-to-back podium finishes in Australia and China.
Shovlin sees Russell as “relaxed in his place within the staff now” following Hamilton’s departure.
“Definitely inside the staff, he is very calm,” Shovlin added. “He appears very assured. He is executed a fantastic job within the first two races, in order that’s been actually encouraging.
“He simply appears to be very relaxed in his place within the staff now and he is simply going about getting the factors, making an attempt to qualify in addition to he can. Entrance row in China was very encouraging.
“He is pushing us arduous to enhance and he is doing lots of work himself.”
