Mercedes star reveals details of….Read more
This year will be a challenging one for him as he returns as Mercedes’ lead driver, with the departure of seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton after 12 years with the team. Hamilton’s shock exit to Ferrari was announced last year, leaving a significant void in Mercedes, where he had secured six of his seven titles. In his place, Mercedes has signed 18-year-old Kimi Antonelli, a promising junior driver, with hopes he will fill the gap left by Hamilton and potentially become the next dominant force in F1, much like Max Verstappen.
As Mercedes’ lead driver, Russell will have a significant role in guiding the team through a crucial season. He will be joined by rookie Antonelli, who faces the enormous task of stepping into Hamilton’s shoes. To support the transition, Mercedes also brought back Valtteri Bottas as their F1 reserve driver. Bottas, who was let go by Sauber after they opted for a new driver lineup, will assist both Russell and Antonelli. His primary role will be to ease the pressure on Russell, offering help as Antonelli acclimates to the demands of F1 racing.
Russell’s preparation for the season has been intense, especially as he gears up to lead Mercedes back to competitive form. After a disappointing fourth-place finish in the team standings last season, improving on this result will be a key goal for the team. Russell spoke candidly about his rigorous physical training regime ahead of the new season, revealing he began his preparations early, on January 2. He emphasized the gradual approach taken to avoid injury, noting that the second week of training was especially tough. He explained how he builds his fitness progressively, stressing the importance of staying active during the off-season and not becoming sedentary.
The work put in by Russell and the entire team will be crucial as they aim to compete at the highest level, especially with the added pressure of stepping
