George Russell will deal with Andrea Kimi Antonelli with “a whole lot of respect” regardless of 2025 being his rookie F1 marketing campaign.
Antonelli will make his F1 debut at subsequent month’s Australian Grand Prix after Mercedes opted to signal him as Lewis Hamilton’s substitute.
Whereas Antonelli has undergone an intensive F1 testing programme forward of his debut, he has restricted single-seater racing expertise.
The 18-year-old was fast-tracked by means of the classes, bypassing Method 3 to compete in Method 2.
Mercedes view Antonelli as their very own Max Verstappen-type expertise, who grew to become a race winner with Pink Bull at 18 in 2016.
Talking to sport.de, Russell isn’t taking the problem of going up towards Antonelli flippantly.
“I feel he’ll undoubtedly maintain me on my toes, there’s little doubt about that,” Russell stated. “After I suppose again to after I was 18, I don’t really feel any quicker at the moment.
“I really feel extra skilled. I understand how to take care of the strain of F1 and every little thing that comes with working with a group of two,000 folks.
“However by way of pace, you both have it otherwise you don’t. I feel he has it, so I’m going to present him a whole lot of respect.
“We’re going to work effectively as a group, I’m excited to see what he can obtain.
“However you must by no means be naive, particularly when the kids are coming in, as a result of I bear in mind after I was that age, and you’ve got a whole lot of fireplace inside you.”
Mercedes hit main milestone
As preparations proceed for the 2025 F1 season, Mercedes have a success a major milestone.
Over the weekend, Mercedes posted a video on their social channels of the W16 – their 2025 challenger – being fired up.
It’s a landmark second for any group as their new machine involves life forward of a brand new marketing campaign.
Mercedes will formally reveal their new automotive on February 24, two days earlier than pre-season testing in Bahrain.
The entire group will hope the W16 is extra constant than its predecessor.
Whereas Mercedes took 4 wins final 12 months, they had been a distant fourth within the F1 constructors’ championship.
