While most Formula 1 teams expect difficult overtaking under new regulations, Mercedes drivers George Russell and Kimi Antonelli remain confidently optimistic. Their stance contrasts sharply with rivals like Esteban Ocon, who believes the new overtake mode will provide only marginal gains compared to last season's DRS advantage.

The confidence stems from Mercedes' simulation data and how Melbourne's "energy poor" circuit configuration might favor their approach. With limited heavy braking areas, the internal combustion engine handles much energy harvesting through super clipping. Mercedes believes this could deliver six to eight tenths of advantage on straights when deploying overtake mode.

Antonelli specifically highlighted Melbourne's unique characteristics could enable spectacular overtaking moves during race starts, safety car restarts, or final laps. Mercedes suggests their W17 will be competitive enough that overtaking scenarios occur naturally rather than through desperation moves. This confidence could prove pivotal in early season races before teams fully adapt to the new technical regulations.