Lewis Hamilton’s departure from Mercedes to Ferrari resulted in rookie Kimi Antonelli being chosen to associate George Russell this season onwards, which means it’s the 26-year-old Briton who would be the extra established of the pair. With 128 race begins underneath his belt, Russell says he feels prepared to guide Mercedes, and though he turns 27 earlier than the brand new season begins he nonetheless believes he’s younger when it comes to when most drivers have traditionally achieved their best success.
“I acknowledge my position because the extra skilled driver,” Russell stated. “There are a whole lot of nice younger drivers coming onto the grid and it makes you understand you’re now not the teen. However this isn’t the start of the top, slightly the top of the start.
“I’m coming into a brand new chapter in my profession. I’m ending my starting and coming into the mid-stage. Lewis was 29 when he joined Mercedes and began profitable all these championships, and Michael was early 30s at Ferrari.
“These days everybody begins youthful and youthful — my debut got here at 20. However I really feel prepared now to satisfy roles on the workforce, however an important a part of that’s driving as shortly as doable, and I really feel in a superb place to try this.
“I’ll proceed to wish to study and be open and take nothing without any consideration. You both have the pace otherwise you don’t, however there is no such thing as a doubt these guys coming in are going to be aggressive.”
Regardless of Antonelli’s lack of expertise, Russell says the 18-year-old’s suggestions will nonetheless be very important and must be listened to on an equal footing.
“He’s such a implausible driver. He doesn’t have the expertise but, however I’m positive he will likely be on top of things in a short time,” Russell stated. “He has already built-in so nicely. We now have each been racing from a younger age and we all know what must be fed again to the workforce. He’s younger, however his opinion will likely be simply as legitimate.”
Alongside Antonelli, Mercedes has additionally welcomed again Valtteri Bottas as a reserve driver this season, and Russell says earlier run-ins — accentuated by the eventual final result of Russell changing the Finn in 2022 — haven’t damage their current-day relationship.
“His expertise goes to be huge. Having somebody with a lot simulator and racing information, and who totally is aware of the workforce goes to be nice,” he stated of Bottas. “Listening to about his previous few years at Sauber with the Ferrari engine could possibly be key too. You at all times need to preserve an open thoughts as to what others are doing and he has all of that underneath his belt.
“Clearly years in the past we have been perceived to not have a powerful relationship, however we’re each professionals and our relationship has grown. We regularly journey collectively and see one another at accommodations or within the fitness center.”
