Lewis Hamilton’s departure from Mercedes to Ferrari resulted in rookie Kimi Antonelli being chosen to companion 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 below his belt, Russell says he feels prepared to steer 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 biggest success.
“I acknowledge my function because the extra skilled driver,” Russell stated. “There are loads of nice younger drivers coming onto the grid and it makes you understand you might be now not the teen. However this isn’t the start of the top, reasonably 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 successful all these championships, and Michael [Schumacher] 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 crew, however crucial a part of that’s driving as shortly as doable, and I really feel in a great place to try this.
“I’ll proceed to wish to be taught and be open and take nothing with no consideration. You both have the pace otherwise you don’t, however there isn’t 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 incredible driver. He doesn’t have the expertise but, however I’m positive he might be on top of things in a short time,” Russell stated. “He has already built-in so effectively. We’ve got each been racing from a younger age and we all know what must be fed again to the crew. He’s younger, however his opinion might 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 end result of Russell changing the Finn in 2022 — haven’t harm their current-day relationship.
“His expertise goes to be large. Having somebody with a lot simulator and racing information, and who totally is aware of the crew goes to be nice,” he stated of Bottas. “Listening to about his previous few years at Sauber with the Ferrari engine may very well be key too. You at all times need to maintain an open thoughts as to what others are doing and he has all of that below his belt.
“Clearly years in the past we had been perceived to not have a robust relationship, however we’re each professionals and our relationship has grown. We regularly journey collectively and see one another at inns or within the health club.”
