RUSSELL READY TO LEAD MERCEDES INTO POST HAMILTON ERA

KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 29 (Bernama) -- George Russell is ready to take on the mantle of lead driver for the Mercedes-AMG Petronas  Formula One (F1) team, as the Silver Arrows transition into a new era following Lewis Hamilton’s departure to Ferrari next season.

Mercedes have signed 18-year-old Italian rookie, Kimi Antonelli, to replace the seven-time world champion and F1’s one of the most decorated driver Hamilton, meaning Russell will need to step up his role. 

Speaking ahead of this weekend’s Qatar Grand Prix (GP), Russell said he is ready for a new chapter with the team, marking his fourth year with the Silver Arrows in 2025. 

“The success the team had with Lewis' has been astonishing and they've achieved a lot together. But I think, this change is needed for Lewis…Next year is going to be exciting.. 

“I absolutely know what is required from myself as a (main) driver, and I am also here to support Kimi in adapting to F1. He’s a young kid with a lot of energy, a lot of speed and brings a new energy that will push us both forward,” Russell said in a virtual session organised by national oil and gas giant, Petronas.

The 26-year-old Briton, who led Mercedes’ 1-2 victory for his third GP win at Las Vegas last weekend, said that he and Antonelli, both part of the Mercedes Junior programme, are already working hard to have fastest cars for next year with hopes of achieving better results. 

Also in Vegas, Red Bull Racing’s Max Verstappen confirmed his fourth world title with 403 points, while Russell is currently in sixth place with 217 points, and Hamilton a rung below with 208 points. 

After their hardest seasons since 2014, 2022 and 2023, Mercedes showed some progress this year as Russell won the Austrian GP and led the German team’s 1-2 finish in the Belgian GP before he was disqualified, while Hamilton also won the British GP. 

Heading into the last two rounds of the season in  Qatar and Abu Dhabi (Dec 6-8), Russell agreed that a strong finish would boost the team’s confidence and momentum for a strong start in 2025.

“We are fully aware that in Formula One, success is measured across 24 races. While we have delivered strong performances in several rounds, maybe about five, we’ve also had races where we were just average and a few where we were clearly off the pace.

“So we need to ensure the work we do over the winter is to help us have a race car that is faster over the course of 24 races and not just exceptionally fast in a handful. We’re racing against the clock...While we know our improvements, if our rivals match or surpass them, the outcome remains uncertain. If they fall short, we’ll have a chance to win,” he explained. 

However, Russell pointed out that, the teams are already looking beyond next year as F1 is revving-up for major regulation change in 2026, including changes to the car design, power units, financial regulations and the usage of 100 percent sustainable fuel. 

"In 2022, we saw a major regulation change focused solely on the cars, while In 2014, it was the engines. But in 2026, it will be a massive overhaul for both the car and engine, making it a critical focus from Jan 1st onward.

“May be after three or four races into 2025, we will have a crucial decision to make on how much effort and resources do we continue investing in the current car versus shifting our focus to 2026. With the financial cost cap in place, we have a fixed budget, so balancing development between 2025 and 2026 will be the challenge every team faces,” he said.

-- BERNAMA