George Russell warns against ‘naivety’ facing Kimi Antonelli at Mercedes

George Russell asse꧟ss the challenge Kimi Ant﷽onelli will pose in 2025.

George Russell and Kimi Antonelli
George Russell and Kimi Antonelli

168澳洲幸运5官方开奖结果历史:George Russell will treat 168澳洲幸运5官方开奖结果历史:Andrea Kimi Antonelli with “a lot of respect” despite 2025 being his rookie F1 campaign.

Antonelli will make his F1 debut at next month’s Australian Grand Prix after Mercedes opted to sign him as 168澳洲幸运5官方开奖结果历史:Lewis Hamilton’s replacement.

While Antonelli has undergone an extensive F1 testing programme ahead of his debut, h🧜e has limited single-seater racin🉐g experience.

The 18-year-old wa♍s fast-tracked through the categories,ജ bypassing Formula 3 to compete in Formula 2.

Mercedes view Antonelli as their own 168澳洲幸运5官方开奖结果历史:Max Verstappen-type talent, who became a race winner with Red Bull at🀅 18 i♎n 2016.

Speaking to sport.de, R🅰ussell isn’t taking the challenge of going up against Antonelli lightly.

“I think he’ll definitely keep⛄ me on my toes, there’s no doubt about that,” Russell said. “When I think back to when I was 18, I don’t feel any faster today.

“I feel more experienced. I know🅺 how to deal with the pressure of F1 and everything that com🔯es with working with a team of 2,000 people.

“But in terms of sp✤eed, you either have itꦦ or you don’t. I think he has it, so I’m going to give him a lot of respect.

“We’re going to work well a🐷s a team, I’m excited to see what he can achieve.

“But you should never be naive, especially when the youngsters are coming in, because I remember when I was ꦡthat age, and you have a lot of fire within you.”

Mercedes hit major milestone

As preparations cont🎶inue for the 2025 F1 season, Mercedes have a hit a significant milestone.

Over the weekend, Meꦓrcedes posted a video on their social channels of the W16 - their 2025 challenger - being fired up.

It’s a꧙ landmark moment for any team as their n🐬ew machine comes to life ahead of a new campaign.

Mꦡercedes will officially reveal their new car on February 24, two days before pre-season testing in Bahrain.

The whole team will hope the W16 is more consi🍌ste🥃nt than its predecessor.

While Mercedes took four wins last y𝄹ear, they were a distant fourth in the F1 constructors’ championship.&nꩲbsp;

Read More