With Lewis Hamilton’s departure, all the pressure will be on him. George Russell has become Mercedes’ leading driver and will be responsible for spearheading the team’s title pursuit while helping Kimi Antonelli develop as quickly as possible.
The British driver will turn 27 in a few weeks, meaning he can no longer be considered a young driver in an F1 grid increasingly filled with rookies. George Russell himself is well aware of this and, in an interview with Mercedes’ official channels, addressed the topics of experience and the new role he will have within the team.
“There are many young drivers entering the championship, and that makes you realize you’re no longer a rookie,” said the former Williams driver. “I know I’m about to enter a new chapter of my career.”
The comparison with Lewis Hamilton and Michael Schumacher
“When Lewis joined Mercedes, he was 29, while Schumacher was 30 when he chose Ferrari,” George Russell added. “Nowadays, drivers start racing very early— I debuted at 20. But I feel ready to lead the team and know I’m in the right place.”
“Of course, I still have a lot to learn, and I will never take anything for granted. The rookies will certainly be very competitive right away,” added the number 63.
And on Antonelli…
In his new role, George Russell will have to help Kimi Antonelli adapt to F1 as quickly as possible so that Mercedes can fight on equal terms with two strong drivers. “Kimi is a fantastic driver. He doesn’t have much experience, but I’m sure he’ll be quick from the start.”
“He’s integrated very well into the team. Like me, he started racing at a very young age and knows what it takes within a team,” Russell concluded.
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