Resta says last year isn’t a guide for Mercedes in Vegas

18:17, 14 Nov

Updated: 18:18, 14 Nov

byLuke-John Buckle

Mercedes' Simone Resta has warned that it may be tricky to draw direct comparisons from the team's pace in Las Vegas last year compared to the upcoming 2025 event.

"It's quite difficult to draw a direct guess between how we were last year and how it's going to be this year."

- Simone Resta

Mercedes has got the advantage in the battle for second in the Constructors' Championship with a 32-point lead over their nearest rivals, Red Bull, ahead of Las Vegas.

The German team are now heading into the final three rounds with a slight lead, with the Las Vegas Grand Prix up next.

Resta, the Deputy Technical Director at Mercedes, told the team's YouTube channel that it's difficult to set concrete expectations before the weekend.

He said: "I think it's very difficult to have a proper expectation of a performance because if you look at last year and this year, we won in all different races between last year and this year."

The Las Vegas Strip circuit can produce some unique conditions with very cold temperatures due to the race being held at night.

Last year, the event was dominated by George Russell, while Lewis Hamilton stormed through from 10th to finish second.

Image credit: RacePictures

Resta added that comparisons between last year in Las Vegas and this season will be difficult but the team is motivated.

He said: "It's quite difficult to draw a direct guess between how we were last year and how it's going to be this year.

"We are going as motivated as ever into these races. We're trying to prepare ourselves into the best way. The drivers, they are both quite positive and we'll try to maximise our performance."

Antonelli is starting to build momentum at Mercedes

Kimi Antonelli joined the Formula 1 grid at Mercedes this year amid a lot of attention due to his stellar junior career.

The Italian scored a podium in Canada but dropped off during the European season with no top five finishes.

However, Antonelli is now building momentum with a sixth-place finish in Mexico, followed up by a second-place finish in Brazil last time out.

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