Mercedes Faces 2025 F1 Season Post-Hamilton Shift

Lewis Hamilton gifted 3,000 Mercedes employees with commissioned artwork by Paul Oz and Joel Clark after leaving the team to join Ferrari, reflecting on his successful 12-year tenure and honoring figures like Niki Lauda and Ayrton Senna. As Mercedes enters the 2025 F1 season without Hamilton, they have introduced a new partnership with Adidas, marking a significant cultural shift in their branding and apparel. Toto Wolff, Mercedes' team principal, emphasizes optimism and readiness for the post-Hamilton era, despite a challenging past season marked by inconsistent car performance. Wolff remains cautious about making predictions for the upcoming season, focusing on assessing the new W16 car's performance in pre-season testing. Meanwhile, the team is poised to benefit from technological advancements with the 2026 rule changes. George Russell steps into the leadership role, joined by promising newcomer Andrea Kimi Antonelli, as they aim to stabilize performance and compete for championships.