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'Solid Start, But More Performance to Find' - Toto's Japanese GP Preview

1 April 2025
5 Min Read

A track and a Grand Prix that needs no introduction. Round three of the 2025 F1 World Championship season takes us to Japan, and the iconic Suzuka.

Two weeks on from the Melbourne-Shanghai double-header, this weekend's race is the start of the first triple-header of the season, with Bahrain and Saudi Arabia on the horizon in the following weeks.

Here's Toto's thoughts before the racing begins again.

'Looking Ahead and Looking to Build'

The Team has had plenty of reasons to celebrate after back-to-back podiums in the opening two Grands Prix of the season, but in such a tightly packed F1 grid, there is no time to sit back.

Toto said: "We will be aiming to build on our solid start to the season in the upcoming triple-header. The W16 has proved a stable and consistent platform so far, and a car that the drivers feel confident in.

"That led to good performances in Australia and China, and our best start to a season since 2021.

"We know we have more performance to find if we are to challenge at the very front of the race though. Development isn't the work of a moment either.

"The races in Japan, Bahrain, and Saudi Arabia will therefore be about maximising what we have right now.

"Our competitors will undoubtedly bounce back from the recent double-header, too. Therefore, we will need to be at our best if we want to continue our promising start."

Say Hello to Suzuka

For the second season in a row, Suzuka in spring will mean the sight of F1 cars in front of a backdrop of beautiful cherry blossom.

It will make an already stunning circuit even more picturesque. For Kimi, it will all be new.

"Suzuka, with its fast sweeps and elevation change, provides a proper test for both driver and car," said Toto.

"This will be Kimi's first experience there and, whilst it will be another new challenge for him, he will be looking forward to it. He has handled everything thrown at him so far, and we're looking forward to seeing his continued development.

"George meanwhile has enjoyed his strongest start to a season in his F1 career. He has delivered with maturity, consistency, and speed. He is performing exactly how we knew he would as the senior driver of the works Mercedes team.

"He will be looking to continue in that form in Japan this weekend."

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