P1racenews AI automatic summary:
Mercedes star reveals F1 team’s ‘excitement’ over Lewis Hamilton exit
F1 star Valtteri Bottas expressed excitement about the new Mercedes driver lineup, highlighting George Russell and Kimi Antonelli’s strong partnership.
Russell and Antonelli have had a successful start in 2025, propelling Mercedes to third in the constructors’ championship.
Antonelli, 18, replaced Lewis Hamilton and has been impressive, while Hamilton’s move to Ferrari has not yielded as many points.
Bottas, now Mercedes’ reserve driver, acknowledged the shift in dynamics with Russell as the team leader and Antonelli as the future prodigy.
Looking ahead, Bottas eyes a return to full-time F1 competition in 2026, with opportunities arising at various teams.
