‘He has brought a calmness and confidence’ – Russell praised for stepping up as Mercedes team leader

Mercedes Trackside Engineering Director Andrew Shovlin was full of praise for the way George Russell has stepped up as lead driver of the Mercedes team in the wake of Lewis Hamilton’s departure.

Hamilton had been at Mercedes since 2013, and while the team never declared him as their number one driver, his results and experience as a multiple World Champion spoke for themselves. But, since joining the team from Williams in 2022, Russell went toe to toe with his compatriot – and has stepped into the role of team leader now that he has a rookie in the form of Kimi Antonelli alongside him.

Russell delivered two podium drives in Australia and China, despite the top teams being equally matched, while his radio messages have been calm and thoughtful during the race. He has also done his best to encourage and guide Antonelli too.

“Certainly within the team, he’s very calm.» Shovlin told the media in Japan when asked how Russell had grown into his new role. «He seems very confident. He’s done a great job in the first [few] races, so that’s been really encouraging.

Russell Shovlin 2.jpg — Mercedes Trackside Engineering Director Andrew Shovlin (left) has hailed the way George Russell has stepped up

“He just seems to be very relaxed in his position in the team now and he’s just going about getting the points, trying to qualify as well as he can. [A] front row in China was very encouraging. He’s pushing us hard to improve and he’s doing a lot of work himself.”

Mercedes has a tough season ahead as, like all the teams, they have to balance developing this year’s car with getting ready for sweeping rule changes in 2026. As such, experience is key with the driver’s input mattering even more than usual in ensuring no team goes the wrong way and wastes precious resources on development.

But where Russell is also delivering is in aiding his rookie team mate – giving Mercedes plenty of tips and pointers on car set-up for Antonelli – and handling the bulk of decisive calls in the race when the conditions change, as they did in Australia.

“Those two are working together, and George is trying to give him the benefit of his experience,” Shovlin added. «I would say that George has stepped up into that role — being the team’s most experienced driver now.

BAHRAIN, BAHRAIN - FEBRUARY 26: George Russell of Great Britain and Mercedes AMG Petronas F1 Team — Russell has been helping his inexperienced team mate Antonelli adjust to life in F1

“We always knew he was quick but, in his own approach, he has brought a confidence and a calmness this year that’s working very well for us. You look at that race in Melbourne — George was communicating really well with us as to what the weather was doing and what he was feeling in the car.

“We were using a lot of that information to copy the strategy onto Kimi’s side because, for Kimi, a lot of it was new. But it’s really pleasing to see how the two of them are working together, and how George has stepped up into that role.”

Mercedes currently sit second in the Teams’ Championship behind McLaren, while Russell is fourth in the Drivers’ Championship, one spot ahead of Antonelli.