George Russell

P3 was the maximum for us today. We can therefore be pleased with the result and getting our second podium in two races to start the season. I made a good start and tried to take the lead from Oscar (Piastri). It was unfortunate to not be able to make the pass, and then to lose out to Lando, but fair play to Oscar as he defended well. Overall, the McLarens were just a little bit too quick for us. As much as we want our race to be with them, at the moment it isn’t. We therefore have to be happy that we were best of the rest today.

It has been a really positive start our season. We finished P3 in Melbourne, P4 in the Sprint yesterday, and P3 again today. We have been consistent, and the car has felt good. We will keep working hard to make it faster and hopefully we can close the gap to the very front.
Kimi Antonelli

The race was pretty tough after I suffered floor damage on lap one. It looks like I hit some debris and that affected the performance quite heavily. I struggled with the rear in particular after that and that was something I wasn’t expecting. It definitely hindered my pace, but it was good learning to have to deal with that. I think we can still be happy that we were able to bring home some points in P8, even though that wasn’t what we were hoping for ahead of the race. I want to say a thank you to the fans for voting me driver of the day. I definitely wasn’t expecting it given how my race went but it’s great to see the support from the fans.

Overall, I’m happy with how I, and the team as a whole, have started the year. I think one of the main points of learning for me has been Qualifying. If I can put it all together on a Saturday then we will be starting further forward, less likely to get involved in incidents, and can maximise the pace of the car. I’m excited to get to work ahead of the next triple-header and come back refreshed for the races in Japan, Bahrain, and Saudi Arabia.
Toto Wolff, Team Principal & CEO

That was a solid afternoon’s work. A podium felt like the realistic best-case scenario for us ahead of the race and that is what we were able to achieve. We knew that the McLarens were going to be very strong, and that the Ferraris and Verstappen were also going to be a threat. I don’t often give 10 out of 10s as I think there is always room to improve but George was faultless today. He extracted the maximum from the car and for me, that was a 10 out of 10 drive. He has started this season incredibly well and is performing exactly as we knew he would as the senior driver.

Kimi’s race was unfortunately compromised by floor damage he sustained on the first lap. He kept his head down though and fought really hard, despite the sizeable performance deficit he was carrying, to come home a creditable P8. He didn’t complain throughout the race, just kept focused on the job, and that’s exactly what we want to see.

Overall, it’s been a good start to the new season. The ambition is to win but we don’t feel any entitlement that we should. The car is not quite as fast as the McLaren as the moment, but the team are working hard to close that gap. For now, we are maximising the performance we have and to leave China second in the Constructors’ Championship, having taken two podiums for the first two races, is satisfying.
Andrew Shovlin, Trackside Engineering Director

We're very pleased to get our second podium of the year with George. He lost one place in the first corner, which meant that McLaren could control the race and realistically, third was the best we could achieve today. There was still a threat to defend from behind with the Ferraris and Verstappen, but it was encouraging that we had the pace to keep them at arm’s length today.

Kimi was unlucky to pick up debris damage to his underfloor on lap one when he likely ran over some bits of the Ferrari front wing. That really hurt his performance today. We're nevertheless pleased that he could bring home some points, but it's a shame as he would have had fun racing with Verstappen and the Ferraris had it not been for that damage.

Overall, we're pleased with how the first two races of the season have gone. The car is working well over a range of conditions and whilst we'll always hope for more, the performance we've seen is encouraging as we can certainly improve from here. This is the most solid start to a season that we've had for three years. We have a big task ahead of us to catch McLaren but we're not short of motivation and very excited for the season ahead.

George Russell

It was tricky to extract the maximum from the tyres across Sprint Qualifying; one moment in SQ2 we were outside the top 10 and the next we were second, even though both laps felt similar. That shows how small the gaps were out there today, but I think P5 is probably a fair result. I was pretty happy with my lap in SQ3 and it’s not a bad place to start. It’s always tough to nail Sprint Qualifying having had so little laps on track in the only hour of practice, so we can be pleased with our efforts.

Let’s see what happens tomorrow in both the Sprint and Qualifying. It was a surprise to see the McLarens struggle a little more in SQ3 and we have four different teams in the top five. We’ve definitely got the chance to move forward in the Sprint and challenge those ahead, so hopefully that is what we can do.
Kimi Antonelli

I was feeling good with the car throughout Sprint Qualifying. My SQ2 lap was particularly strong, and I was hoping to build on that for SQ3. On the Soft compound though, I struggled in the first sector. The tyres were too cold, and I think we didn’t quite get the warm-up right on the out lap. The upside is that it was a better Qualifying session than Melbourne and I continue to build my learning.

Let’s see what we can do tomorrow now. Starting P7 leaves us with work to do but I’ve felt comfortable and confident in the car today. My pace on the Medium tyre was particularly good so hopefully that translates into the rest of the weekend across all compounds.
Andrew Shovlin, Trackside Engineering Director

We had a decent session this morning in FP1 but going into Sprint Qualifying we were still building our understanding of exactly what to do with the Medium tyre. It seemed to be getting better on the second lap, but others were clearly able to extract the time on the first lap better than ourselves. By the end of SQ2, both drivers had set solid times; the McLarens were looking strong but we looked to be in a tight bunch behind him.

For the final run in SQ3, we chose to go early following McLaren out of the pit lane. George did a reasonable lap but never felt like he had the necessary grip from the Soft tyre to challenge for pole. Kimi lacked grip in the first sector meanwhile and the sliding through the tricky first few cost him around the rest of the lap. The positive is that he is still in the mix from P7 and making it into the third segment of Qualifying continues to build his learning. With the benefit of perfect hindsight we'd have gone at the end as the track looked to improve a little, but it still looks like the others are getting a bit more out of the new softs. We've got a bit of time to try and understand that ahead of main qualifying tomorrow.

Tomorrow’s Sprint promises to be an intriguing session. Whilst we start P5 and P7, we were pleased with our long run on the Medium compound in FP1, and the competitive order is hard to predict. We will do our best to bring home a solid haul of points before focusing our efforts on Qualifying for Sunday’s Grand Prix later in the day.

George Russell

That was not an easy race for anyone, so I’m pleased to bring it home in P3, taking our first podium finish of the new season. Keeping it on the road was a challenge at times, particularly in the changeable conditions. There were moments when the rain became slightly heavier whilst running on worn Intermediates, and then near the end the downpour arrived when we were on slicks. The team did a great job operationally today and we definitely maximised the result. The pace of the car was enough for us to fight for the podium, but we know we’ve got to find more speed if we want to challenge McLaren in normal conditions.

Kimi did an amazing job for his first race. To come through from P16 to P4 at any time is impressive. To do it on his Grand Prix debut is therefore fantastic. He deserved that result after yesterday where he was unlucky to suffer floor damage in Qualifying. It’s a positive start to the season for the whole team and we’re excited to move on to Shanghai and see what we can do at next weekend’s Chinese Grand Prix.
Kimi Antonelli

That was an incredibly eventful race! The conditions were super tricky out there. We had so many different conditions that we had to cope with today, but I think we did a good job as a team. I was happy with how we managed everything from start to finish and to come home P4, having started P16, is really positive. I definitely can’t complain about how my debut race in F1 has gone. It was also great to see George up on the podium for the team. Whilst we didn’t have the pace to challenge the McLarens, it’s always good to pick up silverware.

The whole weekend has been a good learning experience. Being knocked out in Q1 after suffering floor damage yesterday was obviously disappointing. To bounce back today though, and experience so much in one race, is really good for my development as an F1 driver. We’ve had a strong first weekend and I’m looking forward to building on that in China next week.
Toto Wolff, Team Principal & CEO

Both drivers did a great job today in very challenging conditions. George drove a superb and controlled race to finish on the podium, whilst Kimi showed a great deal of maturity, in addition to the speed we know he has, to fight through from P16 to P4. The team executed the race well and operationally performed strongly. We saw many other drivers fail to make it to the flag, and other teams unable to take advantage of the opportunities that presented themselves, so we can be pleased with our Sunday.

The McLarens were incredibly quick today. We know we have to find more performance to be able to challenge them in normal conditions. We have clearly taken a step forward over the winter though and we can be encouraged by that. Both drivers have been working well together, the car is responding to their inputs, and it’s a solid platform to build on. We look forward to doing that in China next weekend.
Andrew Shovlin, Trackside Engineering Director

We can be pleased with the start we made to the new season today. The conditions were difficult out there for both the drivers and the team operationally. They handled everything the race could throw at them calmly and efficiently though. We had many different conditions out there, and several challenging decision points, but we made the right choices at the right time. That is what helped us achieve a strong result today.

George drove a considered race and maximised the result possible. We didn’t have the pace to challenge the McLarens at the front, so he focused on conserving his Intermediate tyres in the first half of the race. He handled the falling rain on the dry tyres well and brought the car home in the closing stages to secure our first podium of the season. We are also delighted with how Kimi performed on his debut. He was unfortunate in Qualifying yesterday but didn’t let that deter him. It was an accomplished fightback, cutting through the field in the early stages, and then keeping the car on track when others were unable to do so as the rain fell. P4 is a great return for him.

We now head to China where we continue to build our knowledge of the W16, and our relative performance compared to our competitors. It is a very different type of circuit to Melbourne so will provide useful learnings. We will be looking for another strong weekend and to build on this positive first race of 2025.

George Russell

It was an interesting first day of the season. We looked particularly quick on the Hard and Medium compounds, and the overall balance of the car felt strong. On the Soft tyre, we didn’t improve as much as you might expect. That is something we will evaluate overnight but, with the track temperature over 40°C today, that may have played a part. It is encouraging that there is inherent pace in the car though, as we’ve seen on the C3 and C4 compounds. Our focus is now unlocking that pace across all three tyre compounds and hopefully we can do that tomorrow.

It felt good to be back out on track here; the fans are always incredible in Melbourne and it’s a fun circuit to drive. I had a couple of moments out there but was able to keep it out the wall. I am confident that we can find the improvements we are looking for overnight and have a smoother day on Saturday.
Kimi Antonelli         

It was a positive first day of the season. Overall, I was pleased with how everything went. I’m getting more and more confident with each lap and continue to build my learning. The long run in FP2 was good and gives us a strong platform for the rest of the weekend. We’ve got some work to do on the single lap to find a bit more performance; that is mainly linked to getting the tyres in the right window and something we will focus on improving overnight. We’ve got plenty of data to work with to do that ahead of Saturday.

It is slightly too early to make any predictions on our relative performance. We don’t know what the other teams are doing, and we were offset on tyre strategy today. The car was feeling good though and we will see what we can do in Qualifying tomorrow.
Andrew Shovlin, Trackside Engineering Director

Today was a solid start to the new season. We were able to run cleanly in both sessions and gather good data across all compounds. Having come from a surprisingly cold three days of pre-season testing in Bahrain, it was useful to continue building our knowledge of the W16 on a different type of circuit and in warmer conditions.

The car was behaving well, particularly on the long run and the harder C3 and C4 compounds. Looking at the headline times, we’ve got some work to do on improving our single lap performance on the Soft compound ahead of Qualifying. We’ve already got some areas of focus though and are confident we can take steps to do that overnight.

As was expected ahead of the weekend, it looks close between several teams at the front. We were slightly offset with our tyre choice in FP2 so it’s hard to predict the relative order. What we can say though is that even small improvements will likely make a big difference. We will be working hard this evening, and in conjunction with the teams back at Brackley and Brixworth, to do this.

The Mercedes-AMG PETRONAS Formula One Team is delighted to announce its Junior Programme line-up for 2025. This year, the programme expands to include twelve talented young drivers, competing across various categories from karting to FIA Formula 3.

Our official 2025 Junior Programme drivers are:

    Noah Strømsted, 17, Danish
    Doriane Pin, 21, French
    Rashid Al Dhaheri, 16, Emirati
    Yuanpu Cui, 17, Chinese
    Alex Powell, 17, Jamaican-American
    Ethan Jeff-Hall, 16, British
    Andy Consani, 15, French
    Luna Fluxa, 14, Spanish
    Kenzo Craigie, 14, British
    James Anagnostiadis, 14, Australian
    Julia Montlaur, 12, French
    Many Nuvolini, 11, Italian

 

Gwen Lagrue, Driver Development Advisor, commented: "2025 marked a special year for the Mercedes-AMG F1 Team’s Junior Programme, that was reborn in 2016. Both of our F1 drivers this year have come from our own programme and are showing the way for all our young drivers.

“We have allowed ourselves to explore new championships and challenges this year, welcoming six new members from go karting all the way up to FIA Formula 3. Some of our junior drivers are ready to fight for their respective championships, some are just starting their journey in single seaters, some are at the end of their karting careers and others are at the beginning. At all levels we have some exciting talents and a busy season ahead."

George Russell said: “The Junior Programme has been such a big part of my life. I think the one thing I’m most grateful for is the support that everyone in the team gave me to help me perform. They didn’t just drop me in situations and pile on the pressure; for all 12 of the current junior drivers, I know they will have the very best support and structure to help them on their motorsport journey.

With Kimi and I, both Junior Programme graduates, racing in F1 for the team this year, it shows what is possible. I am sure every one of the juniors will be giving it their all this year and I look forward to seeing their success on track.”

Kimi Antonelli added: “The Junior Programme helped me develop so much, not only as a driver but also as a person. I’m so grateful to the team for the opportunity and the support as without it, I don’t think I would be sat here as a works Mercedes driver in F1. It’s great to see the programme going from strength-to-strength and I look forward to playing my part in helping all 12 drivers on their motorsport journey.”

 

Noah Strømsted

A rare breed in modern motorsport, 17-year-old Noah came into single-seater racing with no previous karting experience. His talent was immediately obvious though and, following a testing programme, he finished as runner-up in the 2021 Danish F4 Championship.

After gaining experience in further European F4 series, the Dane competed in the Formula Regional European Championship in 2024. Noah claimed one pole and four podiums, finishing sixth overall and becoming rookie champion. For 2025, he steps up to the FIA Formula 3 Championship with Trident.

Noah said: “It feels really good to join the programme. My goal this season is to obviously learn a lot, but hopefully also fight for wins and potentially the championship. There will be lots of new tracks for me to drive this year, so I will have to adapt quickly.”

Doriane Pin

One of the foremost female racing talents, Doriane is set for an F1 Academy title challenge in 2025, along with competing in the Formula Regional European Championship.

The Frenchwoman progressed through karting and initially made her way in the world of sportcars, winning in the European Le Mans Series and competing in the World Endurance Championship. 2024 marked her first full season in single-seaters, where she scored three wins and five podiums en route to the runners-up spot in F1 Academy. In 2025, the 21-year-old is looking to go one better.

Doriane said: “I’m really excited for the new season. I have been working hard to prepare this one. I’m determined to give it everything I’ve got and to push myself even further than before. I have one goal in mind and that is winning the title at the end of the year.”

Rashid Al Dhaheri

Emirati driver Rashid joins the Junior Programme for 2025. The 16-year-old will compete in the Formula Regional European Championship with Prema Racing.

Rashid's motorsport journey began at the age of three, and he quickly rose through the ranks, winning the WSK Super Master Series and the South Garda Winter Cup in the 60 Mini category. In 2023, he made his single-seater debut with Prema Racing in the Italian F4 Championship, finishing 10th overall and taking P3 at Macau. Rashid continued to impress in 2024, competing in the Formula 4 UAE Championship and the Euro 4 Championship.

Rashid said: “I'm very proud to be joining the Mercedes-AMG F1 Team’s Junior Programme, which has been so strong in recent years.

“Formula Regional this year will be a new experience, new tracks, with a new car, so there's a lot of learning to do. My biggest goal is to always give 100% and to keep developing. I’m still at an early point in my career and we never stop learning.”

Yuanpu Cui

Hailing from Xi’an, China, Yuanpu steps up to the GB3 Championship for Argenti with Prema in 2025. The 17-year-old completed his first season in single-seaters in 2024, claiming one win and one further podium in the competitive British F4 Championship.

Yuanpu joined the team’s Junior Programme in 2021, having impressed in European karting. That year, he won the ROK Cup Super-Final before showing strongly in the OK category ahead of his graduation to circuit racing.

Yuanpu said: “I'm so excited to be able to carry on as a member of the Mercedes-AMG F1 Team Junior Programme. It’s been a pleasure being on this journey so far. I'm very looking forward to a lot of exciting, historic tracks this year. Let’s see what the season brings!”

Alex Powell

Jamaican-American Alex will once again take part in the Italian F4 Championship in 2025, along with competing in his sophomore season in Euro 4.

Alex joined the team’s Junior Programme in 2019 and enjoyed notable success in karting in the following years. Highlights include winning the ‘Champions of the Future’ series, finishing P2 in the FIA KZ2 World Cup and P3 in the FIA Karting European Championship. Alex stepped up to single-seaters in 2024, claiming the rookie title in Italian F4 and race wins in F4 Middle East and Euro 4. To start 2025, Alex finished as runner-up in F4 Middle East with five wins and four further podiums.

Alex said: “It is great to be part of the Junior Programme for another year. To have all the support and backing from the team is great and I am really truly grateful for that.

“I am excited for the year ahead and confident it is going to be another good season. There is a lot of work to do, but I am ready for the challenge.”

Ethan Jeff-Hall

British racer Ethan is another new incumbent of the Junior Programme in 2025. The 16-year-old will be making his debut in single-seaters this year, competing in the British F4 Championship with Argenti Motorsport.

Ethan enjoyed a stellar karting career, winning the 2022 Rotax Max European Junior Championship and the British Open ‘O Plate’ Junior Championship. He then became the youngest winner of the Rotax Max Challenge International Trophy in 2023 and won it again the following year. 2024 also marked a milestone moment as Ethan went onto secure the FIA World Karting Championship title in the OK category. Alongside his karting, Ethan also moved into car racing and claimed the Ginetta Junior Championship in his rookie season.

Ethan said: “Being a part of a Formula One team junior programme is something you dream of as a kid, so I am super delighted to be joining Mercedes.

“My focus is on doing as well as I possibly can this year in British F4. Hopefully that will give me a good foundation to progress from”

Andy Consani

15-year-old Frenchman Andy joins the Junior Programme for 2025, making his debut in single-seaters by competing in the French F4 Championship.

Motorsport very much runs in Andy’s blood, with various family members involved in the industry, so it is no surprise that his first laps in a go-kart came at the age of four. Since starting to race on the international karting scene in 2021, Andy has achieved top 10 finishes in the 32° Andrea Margutti Trophy (60 Mini), FIA Karting World Championship (OK Junior) and in 2024 was top 20 in the FIA Karting European Championship (OK).

Andy said: “It is so exciting to be part of the Mercedes family and part of the team’s Junior Programme. Wearing the colours of the Silver Arrows for this 2025 season in French F4 will be really cool. I am really looking forward to it and can’t wait to get started.”

Luna Fluxa

Spaniard Luna continues in karting for 2025, having last year become the first woman to win an FIA-sanctioned international karting championship since 1966 when she won the Champions of the Future series in OK-Senior.

Luna began racing in 2017 and rose through the ranks quickly, joining the team’s Junior Programme in 2022. Last year, alongside her Champions of the Future success, Luna showed strongly in both the FIA European and World Championships, received F1 Academy’s Rising Star Award, and was chosen to be part of the famed Iron Dames initiative.

Luna said: “Having the support of the Mercedes-AMG F1 Team Junior Programme has impacted my career so much. It’s been a great journey so far and I am excited for it to continue. My objectives for this year are to finish top 10 and be consistent. Icannot wait to get going.”

Kenzo Craigie

British racer Kenzo starred in 2024, becoming OK-Junior World Champion, claiming the IAME World Final X30 trophy, and was P3 in the Champions of the Future Euro Series. It was a breakout year for the 14-year-old who, for 2025, steps up to race in the OK-Senior category.

Kenzo’s ascent up the karting ranks has been rapid, dominating national karting in 2021 before making the step up to European and World levels in 2022 en route to his dominant season last year.

Kenzo said: “Last year was a good season for me, and moving up a category this year will give me a great chance to learn. I am aiming to recreate the results from 2024, and I am looking forward to racing on some new tracks in 2025.”

James Anagnostiadis

Hailing from Melbourne, Australia, James joined the team’s Junior Programme midway through 2024. He immediately showed why he is so highly rated, finishing as vice-champion in the OK-Junior category at the FIA Karting World Championships and taking the title in the same category in the Champions of the Future Academy series. For 2025, he steps up to the OK-Senior category.

James made the move to European karting having dominated in his native Australia, winning eight state titles and several national crowns.

James said: “I am excited to be in a new category this year. There is always a lot to learn but it feels good to have a new challenge and a fresh start. I am aiming for podiums and hoping to place high up at the World Championship again. I am focused on improving and see where I get.”

Julia Montlaur

Julia is another new addition to the Junior Programme in 2025. The 12-year-old makes the move up to the OK Junior category this year, racing in the Champions of the Future Academy Program and the FFSA Academy in France.

Julia began karting at the age of eight and has been racing in national series since then. This year marks her graduation into European racing.

Julia said: “It is an incredible feeling to be joining the Mercedes-AMG F1 Team Junior Programme this year. I am looking forward to finding the limits of my performance this year and continuing to learn.”

Many Nuvolini

Italian Many Nuvolini also joins the Junior Programme this year having shown promise in his early karting career. He will compete in the OK-Junior category in 2025, aiming to continue his upward trajectory.

Many began karting at the age of six and has since competed in numerous national and international championships. He has achieved several notable results, including podium finishes in the WSK series and the Italian Karting Championship.

Many said: “I am really happy to be joining the Mercedes-AMG F1 Team Junior Programme. It is one of the best programmes to be on as a young driver so I am excited for what is ahead. I want to keep improving this year and hopefully I can win a championship.”

 

About the Mercedes-AMG PETRONAS F1 Team

Mercedes was born to race - and we've been doing it since 1901. Today, the Mercedes-AMG PETRONAS F1 Team competes at the pinnacle of motorsport: the FIA Formula One World Championship.

The pioneering spirit of our company founders lives on in our commitment to innovation and performance. As the world's original automobile manufacturer, Mercedes-Benz has defined the cutting edge of technology for over a century. Today, our F1 team exists to demonstrate the best of the brand's performance on the global stage.

Based in Brackley and Brixworth, UK, over 2,000 committed team members work with a singular mission: to win the world championship. From 2014 to 2021, we secured a record eight consecutive Constructors' Championships, and we are hungry for more.

Our journey is not just about performance on the track; we also strive to make a positive impact on the world and inspire future generations. We are proud signatories of the Climate Pledge, and we are leading the way in building a more sustainable and inclusive sport.