Mercedes Cautions Against Direct Vegas Comparison

Mercedes' Deputy Technical Director, Simone Resta, has warned that it will be challenging to directly compare the team's performance at last year's Las Vegas Grand Prix to the upcoming 2025 event. Despite leading Red Bull by 32 points in the Constructors' Championship, Resta emphasized the unique conditions and varied outcomes from race to race, making concrete expectations difficult.

Why it matters:

After a strong showing in Las Vegas last year, Mercedes is looking to solidify its second-place position in the Constructors' Championship. However, the unique nature of the night race in cold temperatures and the evolving performance across different circuits mean past results might not be a reliable indicator, adding an element of uncertainty to their strategy for the final rounds.

The details:

• Championship Standing: Mercedes holds a 32-point lead over Red Bull in the Constructors' Championship as they head into the final three rounds.
• Resta's Caution: Simone Resta stated on the team's YouTube channel that making direct performance predictions for Las Vegas based on last year is "very difficult" due to varying results across different races throughout the current and previous seasons.
• Unique Conditions: The Las Vegas Strip circuit is known for its distinctive conditions, particularly the very cold temperatures caused by the nighttime race schedule.
• Last Year's Performance: In the previous Las Vegas Grand Prix, George Russell dominated the event, while Lewis Hamilton impressively climbed from 10th to finish second.
• Team Motivation: Despite the predictive challenges, Resta affirmed that the team remains "as motivated as ever" and is preparing in the best possible way, with both drivers expressing positivity.

Between the lines:

Mercedes' cautious stance suggests they are not taking anything for granted, even with a comfortable lead in the championship battle for second. The emphasis on unique conditions in Las Vegas highlights the team's detailed approach to each circuit, recognizing that past successes don't guarantee future performance, especially with evolving car development and competitor performance. The team's motivation despite the uncertainty underscores their determination to maximize results in the final races.

What's next:

Mercedes will aim to leverage their current momentum and adaptability to tackle the unique challenges of the Las Vegas Grand Prix. The team will be focusing on optimizing their car for the specific track conditions rather than relying on last year's data. This approach is critical as they seek to secure second in the Constructors' Championship, an important psychological boost for the coming seasons, especially with emerging talent like Kimi Antonelli building momentum within their junior program.