George Russell eagerly awaits the announcement of his new teammate at Mercedes in 2025, as his trusted partner Lewis Hamilton is set to move to Ferrari. Indications suggest that Toto Wolff is considering the young Andrea Kimi Antonelli as a potential replacement. Russell, however, doesn’t believe he’ll need to guide the 17-year-old Antonelli much in the world of racing.
If Antonelli indeed makes his debut with Mercedes, George Russell naturally assumes a leadership role. The 26-year-old Brit has ample experience – by 2025, he’ll be in his seventh season in Formula 1. Yet, he doesn’t anticipate having to mentor the Italian during his rookie years. “If you’re an extremely talented driver, you don’t need a mentor,” Russell told the media in Canada. “Ultimately, you have to find your own way and be able to make mistakes.”
Where necessary, Russell is willing to step in to assist Antonelli. “Of course, I want to give him advice,” he continued. “Ultimately, I want to help the team, so that’s part of it.” The Mercedes driver hopes to benefit from Antonelli’s skills. “History shows that you need a good teammate to fight for the championship – someone who supports you at the forefront,” said Russell. “Anyone driving alone always loses strategically.”
A New Challenge
George Russell looks forward to a new challenge, regardless of who ends up in the second Mercedes seat. “I think Lewis (Hamilton) has kept me sharp for three years now, but a new face is also exciting. I look forward to a bit of change.”
One person who definitely won’t be moving to Brackley is Carlos Sainz. Mercedes team boss Toto Wolff confirmed earlier that the Spaniard won’t get a spot at the German racing team. Russell, however, believes Sainz deserves a place among his competitors. “Sainz has earned a top seat,” said the Brit. “He’s doing fantastic.”
