Mercedes, Russell: “Antonelli is an exceptional driver, Bottas will bring a lot of experience.”

George Russell gave an interview discussing Kimi Antonelli and the return of Bottas as Mercedes’ third driver.

Andrea Kimi Antonelli‘s official debut in F1 will be one of the most anticipated moments of the 2025 season. The 19-year-old Italian driver, who is part of Mercedes, will compete in his first season in the top motorsport category, replacing seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton.

There are, of course, high expectations and at the same time, a lot of attention and care given the fact that Antonelli is a rookie with great potential and crystal-clear talent. George Russell (his teammate at Mercedes) shared some kind words about him during an interview a few days ago.

These are the Englishman’s words: “He’s a fantastic driver, he doesn’t yet have the necessary experience, but I’m sure he will adapt very quickly. He’s already integrated very well. We both started racing when we were young, and we know what needs to be conveyed to the team. He’s young, but his opinion will be just as valuable.”

Russell then added: “I recognize my role as the more experienced driver. There are a lot of young drivers coming onto the grid, which makes you realize that you’re no longer a rookie. I’m entering a new phase in my career. Lewis was 29 when he joined Mercedes and started winning titles, while Schumacher was 30 when he joined Ferrari. Today, people start much earlier. My debut was at 20, but now I feel ready to take on more responsibility.”

There are big changes at Mercedes with the departure of Lewis Hamilton after eleven years and the return of Bottas as the third driver. According to Russell, his experience will be crucial. These are his comments on the matter: “Having someone with so much knowledge of the simulator and who knows the team perfectly will be a great help, there’s no doubt about that. Hearing his perspective on the last few years with Sauber and the Ferrari engine could be useful. You always have to keep an open mind about what others are doing, and he has all that information.”

Russell then jokingly said: “Maybe he could give me some hair on the back of my head and I could give him something from the sides. I think we could create something extraordinary.”

Photo: X Mercedes AMG Petronas F1 Team