BREAKING:Kimi Antonelli Breaks F1’s Golden Rule, Leaves George Russell
UnhappyMercedes’ rising star, Kimi Antonelli, has already caused a stir ahead of his much-anticipated Formula 1 debut at the 2025 Australian Grand Prix. The 18-year-old Italian, who is set to replace Lewis Hamilton at Mercedes, has reportedly left teammate George Russell disappointed after breaking one of F1’s unwritten golden rules—one that former Haas team boss Guenther Steiner often emphasized.
During an early practice session in his F1 career, Antonelli lost control of his car and crashed, violating the key principle that young drivers must avoid unnecessary incidents, especially when stepping into a top-tier seat. Steiner has long warned that rookies must prioritize keeping the car in one piece to avoid putting themselves under immediate pressure.
The incident reportedly frustrated Russell, who is expected to take on a leadership role at Mercedes following Hamilton’s departure to Ferrari. Russell, known for his composed approach and consistency, was unimpressed by Antonelli’s mistake, as it disrupted the team’s practice session and added extra work for the engineers.
Despite the setback, Antonelli has remained confident in his abilities. Addressing the situation, he admitted Russell “wasn’t very happy” but insisted that their relationship remains positive. “With George, I have a good relationship… but next year, I want to beat him,” Antonelli stated.
Mercedes Team Principal Toto Wolff has played down concerns, expressing confidence in Antonelli’s potential. Wolff emphasized that pushing limits is part of the learning curve for any young driver and that Antonelli is showing the kind of determination required to succeed at the highest level.
Russell,, while disappointed with the incident, has acknowledged Antonelli’s talent. “He’s a great kid, super-fast, of course. Being thrown in at the deep end is going to be a big challenge,” Russell said, indicating that he understands the pressures the young Italian is facing.
With the season opener in Melbourne approaching, all eyes will be on Antonelli as he makes his Grand Prix debut alongside Russell. The Mercedes duo will need to establish a strong working relationship as they take on the challenges of the 2025 F1 season.
