George Russell shares his trustworthy opinion on having Kimi Antonelli as a teammate for the 2025 F1 season

George Russell is worked up to race alongside his new Mercedes teammate, Kimi Antonelli, within the 2025 season. Talking on the crew’s W16 launch, the Briton expressed his enthusiasm about mentoring the Italian rookie as he settles into Method 1 and the Mercedes atmosphere.

Antonelli, thought to be a generational expertise, was promoted to F1 rather than Lewis Hamilton for 2025 and past, swiftly progressing by Mercedes’ junior ranks from Method Regional to F2. Whereas Russell now has three seasons beneath his belt with the Brackley-based squad, expectations are excessive for Antonelli.

Reflecting on the upcoming season, Russell highlighted the crew’s renewed power within the post-Hamilton period.

Talking in a crew assertion on the automobile launch, George Russell mentioned:

“It is also thrilling having a brand new team-mate in Kimi this 12 months. He is extremely fast and I feel we are going to make an excellent partnership. Naturally, there’s a lot for him to study in his first season however I am wanting ahead to serving to him try this and dealing collectively to assist push the crew ahead.”

He added:

“I really feel like final 12 months was my strongest in F1. This coming season will likely be my seventh within the sport, and fourth with the works Mercedes crew, and I am working exhausting to enhance year-on-year. As a crew, we’re extremely motivated to enhance on final season. There’s a nice power inside the factories at Brackley and Brixworth so I am desirous to take to the monitor.”

George Russell reckons shakedown laps ought to be ok to find out Mercedes’ competitiveness

George Russell believes that the preliminary 5 laps within the Mercedes W16 will present a robust indication of whether or not the 2025 season will likely be a aggressive one for the crew. Talking on the automobile’s launch, the Brit defined that shakedown laps have traditionally been a dependable gauge of the automobile’s potential from the outset.

Reflecting on previous seasons, Russell famous that early suggestions from pre-season runs typically set the tone for the 12 months forward. Whereas the 27-year-old stays optimistic about Mercedes’ enhancements, he acknowledged that the true take a look at will come as soon as the automobile hits the monitor. With secure laws and elevated competitors anticipated in 2025, Russell is raring to see how the W16 stacks up in opposition to its rivals.

Talking to pick out onsite media together with Motorsport week on the F175 launch in London, George Russell mentioned:

“I feel inside 5 laps you recognize in case you’re in for a great season or not. And we’ve identified inside the first 5 laps of the final couple of years that we wouldn’t be combating for the championship. Or a minimum of we knew we wouldn’t be combating at the start of the season. So I really feel that, as I mentioned, it’s been far more sturdy this season, however all the groups are so aggressive now. And all people is aware of the restrictions that they’ve had over these final three years.”

Mercedes has not been a title contender for the reason that introduction of ground-effect laws in 2022, struggling to seek out constant performances in comparison with their dominant period from 2014 to 2021. In 2024, their buyer crew McLaren outperformed them, securing the Constructors’ Championship whereas Mercedes completed a disappointing fourth.

With competitors anticipated to be even tighter in 2025, all eyes will likely be on how the Silver Arrows try to reclaim their successful kind. Past the technical challenges, the crew faces a major transition with the departure of Lewis Hamilton to Ferrari and the mixing of rookie Kimi Antonelli alongside George Russell. Managing the event of their W16 and mentoring a younger driver will likely be key hurdles for Mercedes as they purpose to return to the entrance of the grid.