The exchange of gestures between George Russell and Kimi Antonelli at the end of F1 Australian GP. George Russell and Kimi Antonelli supported each other at the end of the Australian GP.

After the race, the two Mercedes drivers expressed their appreciation for each other, both in their statements and through their actions. The German team currently enjoys a great relationship between George Russell and Kimi Antonelli, who exchanged gestures of recognition for the work done at the end of the Australian GP.

In terms of performance, McLaren was undoubtedly the team that emerged best from the weekend in Australia. However, when it comes to results, another team can also be satisfied—Mercedes, which currently shares the same points as the team leading the standings. McLaren collected 27 points over the weekend.

This was largely thanks to an excellent performance from George Russell, who capitalized on Oscar Piastri’s mistake to secure a podium finish in the first race of the season. However, credit must also go to an outstanding Kimi Antonelli. The Italian driver, in his debut race, was the best among the rookies and one of only two out of six debutants to finish the race.

George Russell and Kimi Antonelli appreciative of each other
The two Mercedes drivers are showing a strong camaraderie within the German team. George Russell admitted that Kimi Antonelli will not make life easy for him, but for now, they continue to support each other without any destructive competitiveness.

Kimi Antonelli’s race was eventful until the very end, as he had to deal with a penalty (later revoked) while battling for fourth place. The first notable gesture within Mercedes came on the cool-down lap. As the drivers crossed the finish line and made their way back to the pits, George Russell pulled alongside the young driver from Bologna and, slightly extending his arms, applauded his new teammate.

As mentioned, George Russell finished the race in third place, securing the lowest step on the podium. When the team gathered for the celebrations, Kimi Antonelli joined in to admire his teammate on the podium. This is an unusual gesture in the highly competitive world of F1, but it is a sign of great admiration from the Italian towards a driver who already has considerable experience in the sport.