George Russell believes that Valtteri Bottas' return to Mercedes will be "massive" for the team ahead of the 2025 Formula One season. (More Motorsport News)
Bottas, who was replaced by Russell at Mercedes in 2022, has rejoined the Silver Arrows as a reserve driver after seeing his contract at Sauber come to an end.
The Finn partnered Lewis Hamilton at Mercedes for four seasons, winning ten grand prix, securing 20 pole positions and claiming 58 of his 67 podium finishes with the team.바카라 웹사이트
Bottas finished a career-high second in the drivers' championship in 2019 and 2020, scoring his most points in an F1 season six years ago (326).바카라 웹사이트
He will join Russell and 18-year-old Kimi Antonelli in a new-look Mercedes line-up as they aim to improve on last season's fourth-placed finish in the constructors' championship.바카라 웹사이트
But Russell and Bottas have had their differences on the track, with the pair involved in a high-speed crash at Imola back in 2021.바카라 웹사이트
The incident saw Russell slap the helmet of the veteran driver, but the Briton insisted that the clash was firmly behind them and that he was excited to work with Bottas.바카라 웹사이트
"His experience is going to be massive. Having someone with so much simulator and racing knowledge, and who fully knows the team is going to be great," Russell said.바카라 웹사이트
"Hearing about his last few years at Sauber with the바카라 웹사이트Ferrari바카라 웹사이트engine could be key. You바카라 웹사이트have to keep an open mind as to what others are doing, and he has all of that under his belt."
"Obviously, years ago we were perceived to not have a strong relationship, but we are both professionals and our relationship has grown."
Russell also expressed his confidence in new team-mate Antonelli as he gears up for his first season in F1, having made his free practice바카라 웹사이트debut at the바카라 웹사이트2024 Italian Grand Prix.바카라 웹사이트
He set the fastest lap before spinning out 10 minutes into the session, but the teenager has since featured alongside Russell in the post-season testing at the Yas Marina Circuit,바카라 웹사이트completing 62 laps and setting the fifth-fastest time overall.
Antonelli will become the바카라 웹사이트first Italian driver바카라 웹사이트to compete in F1바카라 웹사이트since바카라 웹사이트Antonio Giovinazzi바카라 웹사이트in바카라 웹사이트2021, as well as the바카라 웹사이트third-youngest driver in the competition's바카라 웹사이트history바카라 웹사이트at 18 years and 203 days old, and바카라 웹사이트Russell is confident his new team-mate has all the right ingredients to바카라 웹사이트succeed.바카라 웹사이트
"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,"바카라 웹사이트Russell added.바카라 웹사이트
"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."
