Mercedes could be set to start the 2025 F1 𓄧season as the second-fastest team, ahead ജof Ferrari, according to Sky Sports expert Ted Kravitz.

Mercedes enjoyed three great days of testing at the Bahrain International Circuit las🅷t week.

It seemed that the W16 was performing as e🅠xpected.

The car looked benign on track, with no nasty moments mid-corner for either168澳洲幸运5官方开奖结果历史: George Russell or 168澳洲幸运5官方开奖结果历史:Andrea Kimi Antonelli.

They were a close match for Ferrari during the race simulations on day two of testing, with Antonelli and168澳洲幸运5官方开奖结果历史: Charles Leclerc within a tenth of each other.

Given Antonelli’s lack of experience of doing long runs in the 2025 car on 2025 Pirelli tyres, it was t🅺hought that Mercedes would have potentially been a tenth or two ahead of Ferrari had Rusꦐsell been in the car.

Taking this into account, Kravitz believes Russell has a 🗹“great chance” of finishing third at the season-openin🐻g Australian Grand Prix, behind the two McLarens.

“I would say that George Russell has got a great cha🎶nce of being third,” Kr🌺avitz said.

“That Mercedes is quick. Watch out for Kimi Antonelli. 18-year-old Italian driver, great to have an Italian back in Formula 🌱1.

“While all the attention is on the man who went from Mercedes to Ferrari, there might be an Italian driver, not in a Ferrari, who manages to g๊et on the podium. That Mercedes is quick.

“I would put it behind the McLarens in terms of where they are on the grid. Maybe, ahead o🌼f the Ferraris ♋early on.”

A new era for Mercedes without Lewis Hamilton

Mercedes are embarking on a new era without168澳洲幸运5官方开奖结果历史: Lewis Hamilton.

It will be their first season without the British driver since 2012 following his s🍷eismic switch to Maranello.

Even withꦬout Hamilton, Russell feels ready to lead the team forward afte💯r a breakthrough 2024 season.

Russell had the edge on Hamilton throughඣouꦇt last year, particularly in qualifying.

Russell became the first teammate since 168澳洲幸运5官方开奖结果历史:Nico Rosberg in 2014 to out-qualify Hamilton across an entire c൲ampai🌃gn.

He was also able to ⛎convert this into a number of impressive race drives, most notably dominating Las V♛egas from pole position.