Every person in Formula One has an eye on the calendar: March 16th. The Australian GP is just around the corner. Mercedes seems to be starting to set objectives for this new season.
Fresh season, unchanged ambition
With a new year ahead of him, George Russell knows it’s not too early to start thinking about the season. He is not aiming for a certain amount of wins. He knows that too many expectations at the wrong time could cost him, so he plans to take it one race at a time as the racing year progresses.
The British driver stated that his goals remained the same as last year’s: always wanting more.
“Formula One is so unique, so you cannot set goals like that. If I say that I want to win four races this year because last year I won three, I am not going to be satisfied if I win five, but the car is capable of 10.”
A winner with a standard
Las Vegas and the Austrian Grand Prix are just two examples of what Russell expects from himself. However, this new year, he prefers to focus on more specific goals. While qualifying was his strongest suit, Russell acknowledges that his F1 race pace needs improvement.
The 26-year-old is confident in his one-lap pace but believes there’s no reason why he shouldn’t be able to carry that performance throughout an entire race. As the likes of Miami, Spain and Abu Dhabi showed last year, Russell still has work to do on Sundays regarding F1 race pace and tyre management.
Russell knows what needs to be done to achieve his goals.
“I tend to keep my goals on more details targets. Last year Qualifying was my strength, but my race pace was not always the best. I know I have the speed over one lap but there is no reason why I should not be able to convert that over the course of a race.
“I need to work on some elements to achieve that, and there will be some other goals – that perhaps are not clear to the fans at home but are at the forefront of my mind.
“The great thing about F1 is you enter a new year, with a new car and new limitations – something that may have been a strength last year may not be this year. You always have to adapt.”
He is fully prepared for the challenges of the new season.
Embracing change: Russell’s new role and the rise of young talent
Following these changes, his former teammate, Lewis Hamilton, has been replaced by the young star Andrea Kimi Antonelli. At 18 years old, the 2025 season marks his debut in Formula 1.
For George Russell, this will be his seventh season in the sport, and his fourth with the Brackley-based squad.
Russell has acknowledged that he embraces his role as the most experienced driver in the team, especially as this year’s grid is filled with young talents that make him realise he’s no longer the ambitious young driver he once was.
Russell admitted, “I am entering a new chapter in my career. I’m leaving the beginning behind and entering the mid-stage.”
This reflects how, over the seasons, it’s increasingly common to see younger drivers take their first steps in the sport.
“You either have the speed or you don’t, but there’s no doubt these guys coming in are going to be competitive.”
New teammate Kimi Antonelli
Despite making his debut at 20, Russell feels he’s at his best now — more eager to learn and with an open mind.
As for Kimi Antonelli, Russell believes the young driver has a natural talent behind the wheel. He’s confident that the Italian will adapt quickly to the car. Although the former Prema drived is still a rookie, both opinions will be heard.
“He is such a fantastic driver — he does not have the experience yet, but I am sure he will be up to speed very quickly.
“He has already integrated so well. We have both been racing from a young age and we know what needs to be fed back to the team. He is young, but his opinion will be just as valid.”
As the 2025 season unfolds, George Russell enters his pivotal chapter as a driver. A huge range of changes is ahead of him, but he remains focused on his growth and improvement as he embraces his role as a leader within the team.
His recognition of the changing dynamic of the grid, with the rise of young talents like Kimi Antonelli, reflects the evolving nature of Formula 1.
