George Russell is already looking ahead to the 2025 season. The Mercedes driver is entering his fourth year with the German racing team and is anticipating a new chapter in his Formula 1 career. This includes working with debutant Andrea Kimi Antonelli and reuniting with old rival Valtteri Bottas.
George Russell is entering his seventh season in Formula 1, and is no longer one of the youngest drivers on the grid. The Mercedes driver notes that in 2025, six rookies will be on the starting line, marking a new chapter in his career. “I’m starting a new chapter in my career. I’m closing the beginning and entering the middle phase,” Russell shares in an interview with Mercedes. “Lewis was 29 when he joined Mercedes and started winning all those championships, and Michael was in his early 30s at Ferrari.”
“Nowadays everyone starts younger, I made my debut at twenty. But I feel ready now to take on roles within the team.” One of the young debutants in 2025 is Russell’s teammate Andrea Kimi Antonelli. “He’s such a fantastic driver. He doesn’t have any experience yet, but I’m sure he’ll be up to speed quickly,” the Brit says about the young Italian.”
Bottas
In addition to the new face of Antonelli, George Russell is also anticipating a reunion with a familiar figure in 2025: Valtteri Bottas. In 2022, Russell replaced Bottas at Mercedes, after the two had previously crashed into each other at Imola in 2021. “Years ago, it was clear that we didn’t have a strong bond, but we are both professionals and our relationship has grown, we often travel together and see each other in hotels or at the gym,” said the three-time Grand Prix winner.
The Brit is particularly looking forward to the experience that the Finn can bring to the German team, but he is unlikely to adopt Bottas’s distinctive hairstyle anytime soon. “Perhaps he can give me some of his hair from the back and I can give him some of my hair from the side,” Russell joked. “I think we could make something very special out of those two!”
