Russell recognizes his role as "the more experienced driver"
Ahead of his fourth F1 season as a Mercedes driver, George Russell insists that he considers himself as "the more experienced driver" as he enters the "mid stage" of his F1 career.
Mercedes is facing a few key changes this season after the departure of Lewis Hamilton, who secured a total of six F1 drivers championship with the Brackley-based outfit and also helped it to grab eight constructors' title.
The seven-time world champion's vacant seat will be filled by 18-year old Andrea Kimi Antonelli. The Bologna-born driver has only complete a single season in Formula 2, and will now partner George Russell at the successful F1 outfit.
However, there will another key change to Mercedes' driver line-up. Having acted as Mercedes' reserve driver last season, seven-time F1 champion Michael Schumacher's son Mick Schumacher left the German-Anglo outfit.
Russell is set to embark on his fourth season with Mercedes, and he will now lead the Brackley-based outfit after the departure of the 105-time F1 race winner Hamilton.
“I am entering a new chapter in my career. I am ending my beginning and entering the mid stage. Lewis was 29 when he joined Mercedes and started winning all those championships, and Michael was early 30s at Ferrari.
“Nowadays everyone starts younger and younger – my debut came at 20. But I feel ready now to fulfil roles at the team, but the most important part of that is driving as quickly as possible, and I feel in a good place to do that.
“I’ll continue to want to learn and be open and take nothing for granted. You either have the speed or you don’t, but there is no doubt these guys coming in are going to be competitive.”
When the lights go out in Melbourne in March, Russell will be 27 years old, while his new team-mate Andrea Kimi Antonelli is only 18 years of age.
“I recognise my role as the more experienced driver. There are a lot of great young drivers coming onto the grid, and it makes you realise you are no longer the youngster.”
