Russell expects to really be kept ‘on my toes’ by Antonelli

George Russell is preparing for a fresh challenge in Formula 1 next season, as he expects to be pushed by Lewis Hamilton’s young successor at Mercedes, 18-year-old charger Andrea Kimi Antonelli.

Despite Antonelli's limited experience in single seaters, Russell is well aware of the Italian sensation’s raw pace and potential, both of which were emphatically demonstrated this year during his private test programme with Mercedes.

Russell, who claimed his first career win in F1 during his debut season with Mercedes in 2022, acknowledged that Antonelli will bring new energy and speed to the team.

Describing his future teammate as “exceptionally fast,” Russell noted that Antonelli’s natural talent is already evident.

“I think I’ve always believed that you gain a lot over time with experience, in terms of how to deal with the race weekend, the tyres, the team, but I don’t believe I’m any faster today on raw pace than I was when I was 17 years old,” commented Russell.

“And I think you’ve either got the speed or you don’t have the speed, and Kimi absolutely has the speed. He’s proven that in all of his categories.”

• Read also: Mercedes misjudged Monza pressure on Antonelli on FP1 debut

Antonelli’s journey to Formula 1 has been swift, having made waves in the junior ranks – including in this year’s FIA Formula 2 Championship in which he has scored two wins – before earning his promotion to the top level.

However, his debut FP1 session at Monza with Mercedes ended abruptly after just a handful of laps when he crashed at the Parabolica corner. Despite this hiccup, Russell believes Antonelli will learn quickly.

“There will be mistakes on the way as there were for all of us – I think every single driver on the grid in Formula 1 in their first couple of seasons made very visual mistakes, and that’s going to be obviously highlighted more for any driver who’s at the front of the field,” he explained.

Looking forward to the new dynamic within the Mercedes team, Russell expressed excitement for the competition Antonelli will bring.

After three years alongside Lewis Hamilton, a seven-time world champion, Russell has gained valuable experience. Now, he’s ready for what he calls a “new challenge” with the youthful Antonelli pushing him to stay at his best.

“Kimi’s exceptionally fast and I’ve got no doubt he’s going to be really keeping me on my toes next year, and I’m really looking forward to a new challenge,” Russell added.

“Three years working with Lewis has been exceptional, but I’m really looking forward to seeing what we can do together from next year onwards.”

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