George Russell has set out his goals ahead of the 2025 season, with the Mercedes driver citing improving his race pace as one of his key targets for the upcoming campaign.
Despite mixed fortunes for the Silver Arrows in 2024, Russell enjoyed particularly strong form in Qualifying, having beaten team mate Lewis Hamilton 18-6 thanks to his one-lap pace.
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But as he prepares for his fourth season with the team – in which he will also welcome a new team mate, with rookie Kimi Antonelli stepping up to replace the Ferrari-bound Hamilton – Russell is hoping to replicate the level of his Qualifying performances on race day.
“My goals are very much the same and the approach has not changed,” the Briton reflected during an interview with the official Mercedes website. “Formula 1 is so unique, so you cannot really set goals like that.
“If I say that I want to win four races this year because last year I won three, I am not going to be satisfied if I win five but the car is capable of 10.
“I tend to keep my goals on more details targets. Last year Qualifying was my strength, but my race pace was not always the best. I know I have the speed over one lap but there is no reason why I should not be able to convert that over the course of a race.
After displaying strong Qualifying form last year, Russell is aiming to improve on his race pace in 2025
“I need to work on some elements to achieve that, and there will be some other goals – that perhaps are not clear to the fans at home but are at the forefront of my mind.
“The great thing about F1 is you enter a new year, with a new car and new limitations – something that may have been a strength last year may not be this year. You always have to adapt.”
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With preparations now well underway for 2025 following Formula 1’s winter break, Russell has enjoyed returning to work at the squad’s headquarters in Brackley.
“The break is needed for everyone in Formula 1, but in all honesty, I was eager to get back to it,” the 26-year-old explained. “There is a bit of time until the first race, but the first day here is a step towards that.
“What’s so great being back is that you see how motivated everybody is to go racing and see how the car is.”
Russell also gave an insight into his own preparations for the upcoming season, having already started his fitness regime.
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“I started my physical preparation with Aleix [trainer] on 2 January,” the three-time race winner said. “We have done a few weeks now, the second week was absolutely brutal.
“We build into it, the last thing you want to do is go out too hard and injure yourself. I kept moving over the break anyway, keeping mobile to avoid sitting around all day doing nothing.
“Exercise for me is more than just a physique, it’s a great way of making me feel good and helps my mental health – that’s why I don’t want to stop.”
After unveiling Mercedes’ livery for 2025 during the F1 75 Live season launch event at London’s The O2 on February 18, Russell will then see his new car – the W16 – revealed to the world on February 24.
This will be followed by pre-season testing at the Bahrain International Circuit from February 26-28 before the Australian Grand Prix kicks off the campaign on March 14-16.
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