George Russell has hailed a “new chapter” in his Formula 1 career this year, with the Briton “ending my beginning” in the sport and becoming Mercedes’ most experienced driver.
Russell made his F1 debut with Williams back in 2019 and landed a seat at Mercedes – who supported his rise to the top echelon – for 2022, partnering seven-time World Champion Lewis Hamilton.
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However, following Hamilton’s blockbuster Ferrari switch, Russell takes over as the elder statesman in 2025 alongside another Mercedes junior in Kimi Antonelli, who steps up aged 18.
“I recognise my role as the more experienced driver,” commented 26-year-old Russell, speaking in an interview published on the official Mercedes team website.
Russell is preparing for his seventh season in F1, and his fourth with Mercedes
“There are a lot of great young drivers coming onto the grid, and it makes you realise you are no longer the youngster.”
With three Grand Prix wins under his belt, he continued: “I am entering a new chapter in my career. I am ending my beginning and entering the mid stage.
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“Lewis was 29 when he joined Mercedes and started winning all those championships, and Michael [Schumacher] was early 30s at Ferrari.
“Nowadays everyone starts younger and younger – my debut came at 20. But I feel ready now to fulfil roles at the team, but the most important part of that is driving as quickly as possible, and I feel in a good place to do that.
“I’ll continue to want to learn and be open and take nothing for granted. You either have the speed or you don’t, but there is no doubt these guys coming in are going to be competitive.”
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With the new campaign just around the corner, Russell is excited to get to work with Antonelli as the pair push to take Mercedes back to title-contending ways – the Silver Arrows last winning a championship in 2021.
“He is such a fantastic driver,” Russell said of his new team mate. “He does not have the experience yet, but I am sure he will be up to speed very quickly.
“He has already integrated so well. We have both been racing from a young age and we know what needs to be fed back to the team. He is young, but his opinion will be just as valid.”
Mercedes will reveal their 2025 challenger on February 24, between F1’s season launch at London’s The O2 on February 18 and pre-season testing in Bahrain from February 26-28.
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