Mercedes aims to return to championship contention in 2025 with its newly launched W16, set to be driven by George Russell and Kimi Antonelli. The team finished fourth in last year's constructors' championship, trailing Red Bull by 121 points and McLaren by 198 points.

Team principal Toto Wolff anticipates an intensely competitive season, noting last year's unpredictable race-by-race performance variations across teams. The team must perform at its peak to challenge for championships.

Technical director James Allison reveals the W16's development focused on addressing the W15's weaknesses, particularly its slow-corner performance and inconsistent tire temperature management. With chassis regulations in their fourth year, improvements are increasingly challenging to achieve.

Key updates to the W16 include:

• New front suspension system
• Completely revised aerodynamic surfaces
• Enhanced under-body developments
• Reliability updates to the power unit
• Improved calibration systems

Power unit chief Hywel Thomas emphasizes the importance of minimal gains in the current regulatory environment. With qualifying sessions often separated by milliseconds, even small improvements of 10-20 milliseconds could significantly impact grid position and race performance.

The team will begin testing in Bahrain this week, with their shakedown scheduled for Tuesday. Following Mercedes' four race wins in 2024, the team aims to convert these occasional victories into consistent championship-challenging performances throughout the 2025 season.

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