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Russell praises 18-year-old Antonelli's speed: 'Keeping me on my toes!'
George Russell has revealed that he is looking forward to having Kimi Antonelli 'keep him on his toes' when the 2025 Formula 1 season begins. 18-year-old Antonelli filled Lewis Hamilton's vacant Mercedes seat after the seven-time world champion left for Ferrari, and some fans criticised Mercedes for signing a rookie. Speaking to GPblog and others at the F1 Live 75 event in London, Russell revealed that he's excited to be driving alongside such a highly anticipated star in the making.
Russell: 'Antonelli will keep me on my toes'
"Being teammates with a new up-and-coming driver. Everyone in Formula One, all the guys at the front, have been through that position, and you've got so much confidence in yourself. And I said it just before, like, when I look back to myself when I was Kimi's age, I don't think you're any slower, you just gain experience over time, you know how to deal with the travel of Formula One working with 2,000 people. But you've got the speed, you've got it, and if you don't, you don't. It's almost as simple as that. So I'm sure Kimi's going to keep me on my toes, and we'll be pushing each other," Russell explained.
The Italian enjoyed a stellar junior career, quickly rising through the ranks. After winning the ADAC and Italian F4 titles in 2022 and the Formula Regional European Championship in 2023, the Mercedes junior entered F2 with PREMA in 2024, skipping F3.
Antonelli already appeared for Mercedes in the first practice session at his home race, the Italian Grand Prix, last year. Unfortunately, the 18-year-old driver found the barriers at Parabolica. As a vote of confidence, team principal Toto Wolff confirmed Antonelli as a full-time driver on the eve of race day.
If he settles well, Antonelli may be able to fight for his maiden Formula 1 win this season. Russell remains adamant that the Silver Arrows may have opportunities, but doesn't get ahead of himself: "You can't put a figure on your expectations because the car could be quick enough to win every race; it could be quick enough to win no races and you've got to adjust those expectations race by race. I think for sure, last year we missed a few opportunities. I think we led maybe seven races last year, and I only won two of them, and I felt that we could have won more. So it's just basically trying to maximise every single result, no matter what position that may be."
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