George Russell Unhappy After Kimi Antonelli Breaks F1’s Golden Rule on Debut
Mercedes junior driver Kimi Antonelli’s Formula 1 debut at the Italian Grand Prix in Monza didn’t go as planned, leaving fellow Mercedes driver George Russell unimpressed. The 18-year-old Italian crashed out just 10 minutes into his first F1 session, spinning at the Parabolica corner and hitting the wall, cutting his debut short.
Antonelli admitted that Russell wasn’t too happy with the rookie error but downplayed any tension between them. “He was not very happy, but before going out at the Parabolica, I was going strong,” Antonelli told *Sky Italia*. The young driver insisted that he and Russell maintain a good relationship despite the incident. “With George, I have a good relationship. He did not give me much advice, but for now, everything is fine. Next year, I want to beat him,” Antonelli added confidently.
The incident came as a reminder of Formula 1’s unwritten “golden rule” for debut drivers: don’t crash. Breaking this fundamental principle on his first outing put Antonelli under the spotlight. Former Haas F1 Team Principal Guenther Steiner didn’t hold back in his assessment. Speaking on the *Red Flags* podcast, Steiner criticized the mistake, calling it worse than finishing last in a debut race. “Antonelli’s idiot move is a worse fate than finishing at the back,” Steiner said. He emphasized how crucial it is for young drivers to avoid such errors when taking over an F1 car.
Despite the setback, Antonelli remains optimistic about his future in F1, determined to improve and even beat Russell, his current Mercedes teammate. His debut may have been rocky, but the young Italian has already set his sights on redemption in the upcoming season.
