Mercedes driver George Russell has described Lewis Hamilton’s switch to Ferrari for the 2025 season as beneficial for everyone involved, including the team, the seven-time world champion, and his replacement Andrea Kimi Antonelli. Russell emphasized that this fresh start marks a new chapter for Mercedes as they adjust to these significant changes.
Hamilton achieved six of his seven Formula 1 world titles with Mercedes over 13 seasons before departing last winter in search of a late-career challenge with Ferrari. Meanwhile, Mercedes promoted 18-year-old Italian prodigy Andrea Kimi Antonelli to fill Hamilton’s seat, pairing the rookie with Russell for the 2025 campaign.
The Pressure on Russell as Mercedes’ New Team Leader
Hamilton’s exit has left a notable void at the Brackley-based team. With Hamilton gone, Russell now serves as the de facto leader within Mercedes, guiding the team through this transitional period while Antonelli gains experience in the Formula 1 environment. Russell spoke candidly about the mixed emotions inside the team but emphasized the focus remains squarely on performance.
“For sure, it’s a different feeling within the team. But ultimately, you only look towards one thing, which is the performance. We obviously started really well. Now we’ve had a run of bad form. I hope we can get that back on track, but there’s always pros and cons to every change that you make in any organisation,”
Russell shared in an exclusive interview with Motorsport.com.
“But I think the change was with Lewis. It’s good for him. It’s really good for us as a team; a fresh start. Sometimes you need to break that mould to find yourself back on track.”
—George Russell, Mercedes Driver
Season Highlights and Challenges for Mercedes in 2025
Mercedes showed promise early in the season, with Russell achieving a podium finish in Hungary, marking a positive step after some recent struggles. However, the team has also faced setbacks, including a development misstep with the W16 car’s suspension system, which affected overall performance on various circuits.
Hamilton’s debut with Ferrari has been challenging in its own right, featuring a notable sprint win in China, but largely marked by an adjustment period as he acclimated to the new car and team dynamics. Despite these hurdles, Hamilton’s focus is increasingly directed toward 2026, when new regulations promise a level playing field for all teams.
Antonelli’s Rookie Season and Russell’s Support
Antonelli’s rookie campaign has been characterized by the typical ups and downs expected for a newcomer. His confidence was particularly shaken by a rear suspension downgrade in Imola, which negatively impacted his car’s handling. However, Mercedes’ decision to revert to the older suspension spec in Hungary proved effective and helped both drivers regain competitiveness.
Russell defended Antonelli’s performance, noting that the young driver’s pace relative to himself has remained steady despite recent results. He pointed out that the apparent gap between them has been exaggerated due to changes in team form and the competitiveness of the midfield pack.
“The fact is, his pace delta to me is no different. I think that’s what people don’t see,”
Russell explained.
“In Canada I was on pole and he qualified fourth, but he was six tenths behind me. In Belgium, he was out in Q1 and I made it to Q3 but he was only three tenths off.”
“People look at the underlying result, but the truth is he’s still making progress, even though we as a team have gone backwards. But suddenly you’re now in the fight where a tenth can be six or seven grid spots, whereas before, for the positions we were fighting for, a tenth was plus or minus one position. Kimi and I had just taken an equal step backwards over those last few races.”
—George Russell, Mercedes Driver
Looking Ahead: Preparing for the 2026 Season
Russell acknowledged the setback from Mercedes’ recent development errors but remains confident that these issues will not affect the team’s 2026 car, as most of the engineering group has already shifted focus to next year’s design under new technical regulations. This change in workload is expected to foster creativity and confidence among the staff, which Russell emphasized as critical for success.
“It’s obviously a totally different concept going into next year, but you still need people feeling creative, feeling confident with themselves, and the simulations and tools working properly,”
Russell stated.
“Ultimately, this is a sport based upon decisions and upon people, because the people are who create the simulations and everything, and we need them in the best place possible.”
“Of course, this recent lack of performance is not ideal, but actually the truth is 95 percent of the workforce is already on 2026. So, that group of people is not in the sort of emotional cycle that you would ordinarily be in.”
—George Russell, Mercedes Driver
As the 2025 season progresses, Mercedes will continue adapting to new team leadership and developing its car, while Antonelli aims to grow into his role alongside Russell. Hamilton’s transition to Ferrari marks the start of a new era for both drivers, promising fresh challenges and opportunities for Mercedes in the intense competition ahead.
