For Mercedes, year one after the Hamilton era begins: Can Russell fulfill the new role of team leader and what can be expected of rookie Antonelli?
With just a few days to go before the start of the new Formula One season in Melbourne, some light is finally being shed on the annual guesswork of fans and experts regarding favorite roles, outsiders and possible surprises in the pecking order of the premier class.
Particular attention is guaranteed for Mercedes: How will the Silver Arrows cope with the departure of Lewis Hamilton, how quickly will newcomer Andrea Kimi Antonelli settle in, and will George Russell live up to his new role as team leader?
If ex-Formula One driver Martin Brundle has his way, the latter at least is not in question: “George has a self-confidence – the kind of self-confidence I would have liked to have had when I was still driving,” says Brundle on Sky: “There is nothing uncomfortable about this belief in himself, and I think he will enjoy his leadership role at Mercedes this year – finally out of Lewis’ shadow, even though he has beaten him on many occasions.“
”In the shadow”: Russell finally a championship contender in 2025?
If Mercedes is halfway there in terms of performance, then Russell should also be on the list as a World Championship contender, Brundle believes: “Apart from McLaren and Ferrari, who really have a big performance advantage over Red Bull and Mercedes, I do think that George will be one of the contenders in the World Championship,” says Brundle.
Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff is also hoping for this, of course, and is preparing for one or two heated duels at the front: “The drivers competing for victory at the front are all tough and brutal and absolutely determined to win,” explains the Viennese in ORF. Russell is no exception, as he has already demonstrated in his clashes with world champion Max Verstappen in the 2024 season:
“I don’t think the heated exchange has changed much, but George wants it, and George won’t put up with anything, and of course it’s the same on the other side,” says Wolff, referring to his protégé’s exchange with Verstappen. The Viennese driver points out: “Of course you see, or you forget, when you talk about Verstappen or Hamilton or even Andrea, what great successes George has had. He is a bit overshadowed by all these announcements.”
The Mercedes team boss lists: “George has become European Karting Champion, British Champion, he has achieved everything. He won the British Formula 4 in his first year, became Formula 3 champion in his first year, became Formula 2 champion in his first year and then it quickly became clear in Formula 1 that he was the ringleader at Williams. I don’t think anyone ever beat him in qualifying. And with us, he could have won the first race in Bahrain back then if it hadn’t been for the team’s mistakes.”
For the Viennese, it is therefore clear: “So George is at the forefront – and if we are able to provide a fast car, then he is in the running for a world championship. But we haven’t managed that yet.” According to Wolff, the expectations of Antonelli, who is celebrating his Grand Prix debut in Australia on Sunday, are somewhat different.
Antonelli “will make mistakes”: Wolff wants to ease the pressure
The Italian, who has been supported since he was eleven years old, has also followed an impressive path in the junior classes, just like Russell: “He came into our program and won everything, every single category, be it in karting or in the junior formula series. And that is, of course, a rare achievement. There are only a few drivers who have managed that in the past,“ says Wolff in praise.
”We also did a very extensive test program with him. We drove almost 10,000 kilometers in a two-year-old Formula 1 car, and we can assess his performance,” Wolff assures. Nevertheless, he wants to ease the pressure on Antonelli somewhat: “When you’re an 18-year-old thrown into Formula 1, with all the media hype around you, the expectations, your own expectations or those of the team or the Italian fans, you have to be careful not to lose your footing.”
“And so we try to dampen these expectations and say that no one expects you to win at the beginning, beat George Russell or compete for a championship,” Wolff said. An opinion shared by expert Brundle: Antonelli is “clearly very fast,” but the Brit points out: “He’s 18 and still has a lot to learn, so he’ll make mistakes – a process that George himself had to go through at Williams.”
Brundle still has no doubts about Mercedes’ choice, saying the team knows what it’s doing: “In the last ten years, they had Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg, world champions and multiple Grand Prix winners – George Russell and Valtteri Bottas – multiple Grand Prix winners – so they’re not going to compromise 50 percent of their chances just to put someone in the car at their own discretion,” Brundle is convinced that those in charge at Antonelli have observed something special.
“Of course they saw something in Antonelli. They believe in him, have decided to build on that for the future. They are digging for gold,” the ex-Formula 1 driver believes with regard to the Italian super talent, and is convinced: ”He will often be smiling. But still, you have to expect George to be their man for this season.” Depending on how quickly Antonelli picks up speed, this status could change again very quickly…
