Andrea Kimi Antonelli is friends with everyone: George Russell and Valtteri Bottas support his F1 debut, but the rivalry at Mercedes is looming. The Italian driver talks about his first moments as an official Brackley driver. His teammates provide him with valuable advice to best adapt to the Circus, with the specter of 2026 still seeming like a distant fate.
A new, young, and electric atmosphere is in the air at Mercedes. Lewis Hamilton’s departure marks a turning point for Toto Wolff’s team. The team principal was clear in his remarks to Sky Sports: it was a positive decision for both parties. The Briton will chase his championship dream with Ferrari, and the prospect is exciting. For the Silver Arrows, however, it’s time for a revolution.
George Russell and Andrea Kimi Antonelli form an unprecedented pairing. The Italian rookie will have a car that may be capable of fighting for the podium right away, and a few chances of victory are already in the air. His teammate, meanwhile, officially becomes Mercedes’ captain after his years of apprenticeship at Williams and alongside the #44.
For now, there is great chemistry between the two. However, as the season progresses, things could still change. Paddock rumors should always be taken with caution. While Max Verstappen was previously linked to Mercedes, he now seems headed toward Aston Martin. But things can change quickly, and the Dutchman could reappear on Toto Wolff’s radar. And one of Russell or Antonelli would have to leave.
Antonelli: “Russell and Bottas Are Giving Me a Lot of Advice”
It’s simple, perhaps brutal, mathematics—fueled, of course, by the Formula 1 rumor mill. For now, though, internal relations at Brackley are going smoothly: “Russell has been a great teammate so far,” Andrea Kimi Antonelli told Sky Sports F1. “He is helping me a lot, we talk a lot about the car and the races, and he gives me a lot of feedback and advice.”
“I also had the chance to meet Valtteri [Bottas] for the first time and start building a relationship with him. I can’t wait to start working with him as well because he is a very experienced driver and was with Mercedes for many years. He will be able to help me a lot during race weekends.”
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