In China and Bahrain, Mercedes-Speerspitze George Russell scoured just past the pole as second, rookie teammate Kimi Antonelli finally got them in Miami-but only in sprint qualifying. Nevertheless, it should be noted: In qualifying, Mercedes in 2025 presents itself a tick more than in the racing trim:
So maybe Monaco is the best chance of a silver arrow victory in the near future? After all, due to the lack of overtaking opportunities, the poles are known to be almost half the battle …
“Our car, especially in qualifying over a single round, was very strong on almost every route. And I see no reason why our car should not be just as competitive here,” Antonelli, after his rather disappointing home game in Imola, shows “quite confident” that Mercedes is going uphill again at the weekend.
“We know that qualifying is one of our strengths”
“I hope that we will be fast. But of course it also depends on the driver – especially on a course like this,” the Italian knows that his skills in the narrow guardian canal will also be put to the test: “If the car feels good and gives you trust, you can make the difference as a driver and find a little more time.”
Teammate Russell, of course, also has the same plan at the weekend: “I think we are looking forward to this weekend, because we know that qualifying is one of our strengths. We were often only a tenth of a second behind the Pole this season,” the Brit also knows about the increased chances of a strong result in his adopted home.
In addition, there is the tactical component, which this time is a little different than usual: “With the two-stop strategy of this weekend, it will be interesting to see how it developed. In the past, Monaco was a pure qualifying race: you could control your distance, stop your opponents and simply bring the tires to the end of the race,” says Russell.
But the Mercedes pilot is convinced: “It will probably not run that time. So the pace in the race is not meaningless,” Russell also dampens a bit of expectations, because: “So that has not yet been our strength. So we have to develop.” In principle, the team knew “that we are better in qualifying than in the race”.
Therefore, the silver arrow star concludes: “In this respect, one could say that the classic format might have been more. But you also have to think of the big whole – what is good for sport. And I think to tender a two -stop strategy is useful.” Especially since Russell adds: “Even if Pirelli hadn’t brought the C4, it would probably have run out of two stops anyway.”
With a view to the factors for Mercedes, which are limited in the previous course of the season, above all the interplay of tire relaps and heat, he says: “It is not quite as easy to reduce it to the temperature. It also depends on other things how smooth the asphalt is or how soft the tires are.”
Russell: “Red Bull currently only has Max, the performance brings”
The problems in the race “never only have one reason,” believes Russell, although he states: “Basically the performance is there. The pace that we showed in Imola was actually not that far from that in Miami. In Miami everything just went smoothly, we had a perfect weekend and landed on the podium.”
In Imola, however, Mercedes was a bit of bad luck, was also slowed down by the course of the race: “Last weekend – without the Safety car and VSC – we would probably have been fifth. And that also corresponds to what we showed in Dschidda. On a good day we will be third, fifth or sixth on a bad day,” says Russell.
The Briton then places its racing team as “the third best team this season”: “And as a third best team, we were still on the podium or made it into top 3 qualifying. So it is no longer as clear as before.” However, Mercedes also helps the factor that an opponent continues to appear as a one-man team: “Red Bull currently only has Max, who is performing,” says Russell.
“Lando and Oscar are strong in the race, but sometimes a bit inconsistent in qualifying – we can in between,” he still senses against the customer team on Saturdays. “And Ferrari, in turn, fluctuates: Sometimes they are stronger in the race, sometimes weaker. In imola they were good in the race, even in Dschidda.”
Monaco is also “traditionally her area”, the Mercedes star is again reminiscent of the victory of local hero Charles Leclerc in the previous year – and the possibility that there could therefore be a four -fight for the triumph at the highlight of the season at the weekend.