KUALA LUMPUR — George Russell is ready to take on the mantle of lead driver for Mercedes-AMG Petronas Formula One team as the Silver Arrows enter a new era following Lewis Hamilton’s move to Ferrari next season.
Mercedes has signed 18-year-old Italian rookie Kimi Antonelli to replace the seven-time world champion, meaning Russell will need to step up his leadership.
Ahead of the Qatar Grand Prix this weekend, Russell, preparing for his fourth season with Mercedes in 2025, expressed his excitement for the upcoming changes.
“The success the team had with Lewis has been astonishing and they’ve achieved a lot together. But I think, this change is needed for Lewis. Next year is going to be exciting.
“I absolutely know what is required from myself as a (main) driver, and I am also here to support Kimi in adapting to F1. He’s a young kid with a lot of energy, a lot of speed and brings a new energy that will push us both forward,” Russell said in a virtual session organised by national oil and gas giant, Petronas.
Russell, who secured his third GP victory in Las Vegas last weekend, also highlighted the teamwork between him and Antonelli, both part of the Mercedes Junior programme.
Together, they are working to ensure Mercedes has a competitive car for the 2025 season.
At the Las Vegas GP, Red Bull’s Max Verstappen clinched his fourth world title with 403 points, while Russell currently sits in sixth place with 217 points, ahead of Hamilton, who has 208 points.
After two challenging seasons in 2022 and 2023, Mercedes has shown progress this year, with Russell winning the Austrian GP and leading a 1-2 finish in Belgium before his disqualification, while Hamilton also took a win at the British GP.
Heading into the final two races of the season in Qatar and Abu Dhabi, Russell emphasised the importance of a strong finish to build confidence for 2025.
“We are fully aware that in Formula One, success is measured across 24 races. While we have delivered strong performances in several rounds, maybe about five, we’ve also had races where we were just average and a few where we were clearly off the pace.
“So we need to ensure the work we do over the winter is to help us have a race car that is faster over the course of 24 races and not just exceptionally fast in a handful.
“We’re racing against the clock, and while we know our improvements, if our rivals match or surpass them, the outcome remains uncertain. If they fall short, we’ll have a chance to win,” he explained.
Russell also noted that teams are already looking beyond 2025, with major regulation changes coming in 2026, including overhauls to car design, power units, financial regulations, and the introduction of 100% sustainable fuel.
“In 2022, we saw a major regulation change focused solely on the cars, while In 2014, it was the engines. But in 2026, it will be a massive overhaul for both the car and engine, making it a critical focus from January 1 onward.
“Maybe after three or four races into 2025, we’ll have a crucial decision to make on how much effort and resources do we continue investing in the current car versus shifting our focus to 2026.
“With the financial cost cap in place, we have a fixed budget, so balancing development between 2025 and 2026 will be the challenge every team faces,” he said. — November 29, 2024