Mercedes-AMG's F1 Team: Spanish Grand Prix 2025 - Friday Practice Sessions
Merc occupied second and sixth spots in Barcelona's second practice session
In Friday's practice runs at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya, George Russell and Kimi Antonelli secured the second and sixth positions respectively for the Mercedes-AMG Petronas F1 Team. The sessions were primarily focused on data collection and long-run work, aiming to establish a good understanding of the car's balance, preparing for Sunday's race.
With track temperatures reaching 50 degrees Celsius in both sessions, managing tires and combating overheating were significant concerns for all teams. In the initial practice, Mercedes opted for a different strategy, running on hard and medium tires, with Russell placing 11th and Antonelli 18th.
In the second practice session, both drivers executed fast laps on medium and soft tires, concluding the practice with a lengthy stint on the C3 compound, continuing their long-run work for the upcoming race. The FIA implemented a new technical directive regarding "Flexi-wings" this weekend, tightening the deflection tests for the front wing's flexibility.
Our junior driver, Noah Strømsted, qualified eighth in the FIA F3 Championship, which kicks off tomorrow with a sprint race from pole position 5 and a main race from pole position 8.
George Russell expressed feeling comfortable in the car during the practice sessions, mentioning that Barcelona is an excellent track, offering numerous laps. He felt the team's qualifying runs in the second practice looked promising, and they appeared on track with their performance goals.
Antonelli acknowledged the challenging experience of the first runs in the afternoon practice, with less fuel on board. She mentioned experiencing 'bouncing' in the first hour, but things improved in the second practice and found a better rhythm.
Andrew Shovlin, the team's Trackside Engineering Director, mentioned that Friday was a productive day, allowing them to execute their plan without any significant issues. With a focus on tire management and long-run practice, they gathered valuable data that will be analyzed overnight to determine the best direction for the weekend.
Under the intense heat of Barcelona, maintaining the tires' condition for the entire stint promises to be a significant challenge; nonetheless, that should make for an engaging race. The team's strategy remains focused on securing both qualifying and race-day positions, aiming to bring home solid points in the race to come.
In the second practice session, Mercedes-AMG Petronas F1 Team's drivers, George Russell and Kimi Antonelli, showcased their skills in other sports, racing against competitors on the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya, securing the second and sixth positions respectively.
While racing strategies varied among teams, managing tires and combating overheating remained pressing concerns, with Russell and Antonelli executing fast laps on medium and soft tires in the session.
