Kimi Antonelli vs George Russell: How Do They Compare?
Mercedes went all-in on a reshuffle for 2025. Lewis Hamilton left for Ferrari, an 18-year-old Italian got handed the second seat, and suddenly the most-watched driver pairing on the grid was a seven-time champion’s replacement next to a guy who’d been quietly building a title case for three years. That’s why Kimi Antonelli and George Russell get compared constantly — same car, same engineers, wildly different experience levels.
There’s also a practical angle. Both are tall for F1 drivers, and height is a genuine performance variable in this sport. Taller drivers carry more mass, need more cockpit room, and have less margin under the FIA’s minimum weight rules. Mercedes is now running two of the longer-limbed drivers on the grid in the same garage.
Image: Steffen Prößdorf / CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Antonelli, born in Bologna in August 2006, came up through Mercedes’ junior program and skipped a conventional apprenticeship — he went from Formula 2 straight into a works seat. Russell, from King’s Lynn in Norfolk, took the long route: three years at Williams, scoring almost nothing, before Mercedes promoted him in 2022.
Side-by-Side Stats
| Stat | Kimi Antonelli | George Russell |
|---|---|---|
| Height | 5 ft 11 in (1.80 m) | 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) |
| Weight | Approx. 154 lbs (70 kg) | Approx. 154 lbs (70 kg) |
| Age | 19 | 27 |
| Date of Birth | August 25, 2006 | February 15, 1998 |
| Build | Lean athletic | Lean athletic |
| Eye Color | Dark Brown | Dark Brown |
| Hair Color | Dark Brown | Dark Brown |
| Net Worth | Estimated $2 million | Estimated $18 million |
Net worth figures are third-party estimates and should be treated as ballpark numbers, not verified earnings.
Height Comparison
Stand them next to each other and Russell edges it by about two inches. On the podium or in a driver line-up photo, it’s visible but not dramatic — Antonelli’s shoulders sit just below Russell’s.
Both are above the F1 average. The grid skews small for obvious reasons: shorter drivers fit tighter cockpits and carry less ballast penalty. Yuki Tsunoda is listed around 5 ft 2 in. Russell sits at the opposite end alongside Esteban Ocon and Alex Albon, who are both in the 6-foot range. Compared to the general population, Russell is above the UK male average of about 5 ft 9 in, and Antonelli clears the Italian male average of about 5 ft 9 in too.
The weight rule matters here. For 2025, the FIA raised the minimum driver-plus-seat weight to 82 kg, up from 80 kg. If a driver and his seat come in under that, the team adds ballast — and that ballast has to go where the rules say, not where the engineers want it. Taller, heavier drivers eat into the free ballast a team can use to optimize weight distribution. Russell has been open about how tight the margins are. He also knows the penalty for getting it wrong: his 2024 Belgian GP win was wiped out when his car was found 1.5 kg under the limit at post-race scrutineering.
Career Comparison
Russell’s junior record is one of the cleanest in modern F1. BRDC Formula 4 champion in 2014, GP3 champion in 2017, Formula 2 champion in 2018 — three titles in five years. Williams signed him for 2019, where he spent three seasons dragging an uncompetitive car into Q2 and outqualifying his teammate relentlessly. Mercedes promoted him in 2022. His first win came at Interlagos that November. He added Austria and Las Vegas in 2024, then Canada and Singapore in 2025.
Antonelli’s rise was faster and louder. Italian F4 and ADAC F4 titles in 2022, then both the Formula Regional Middle East and Formula Regional European championships in 2023. Mercedes pushed him straight into F2 for 2024 with Prema, where he won races but finished sixth overall — then handed him Hamilton’s seat anyway.
The 2025 rookie season delivered the headlines. Fastest lap on debut in Australia. Youngest driver ever to lead a lap in F1, at Suzuka. Sprint pole in Miami at 18, making him the youngest polesitter in any F1 session. Then a podium in Canada — third place, the third-youngest podium finisher in the sport’s history.
Fitness and Body Approach
Both carry about the same race weight despite the height gap, which tells you something about how lean Russell has to stay. He’s talked repeatedly about watching his diet, and his off-track training leans heavily on endurance work — cycling, running, swimming — plus the standard F1 neck and core program. Drivers pull sustained lateral loads above 5G in high-speed corners, so neck strength isn’t optional.
Antonelli spent most of 2024 preparing physically for the step up. Teenage drivers moving into F1 almost always arrive underpowered in the neck and upper back, and Mercedes put him through a conditioning block at Brackley before his debut. He also did extensive testing in older cars under the Testing of Previous Cars program, which doubled as physical acclimatization.
Heat is the other variable. Cockpit temperatures in Singapore and Qatar can exceed 50°C, and drivers lose multiple kilos of fluid across a race. Both run hydration and heat-acclimation protocols in the weeks before those rounds.
Key Differences
- Russell is about two inches taller at 6 ft 1 in versus Antonelli’s 5 ft 11 in.
- Eight-year age gap — Russell was born in 1998, Antonelli in 2006.
- Russell has a full junior title sweep (F4, GP3, F2); Antonelli skipped the F2 championship entirely.
- Russell spent three seasons at Williams before Mercedes; Antonelli went from F2 straight to a works seat.
- Multiple Grand Prix wins for Russell against a single podium for Antonelli in his debut year.
- Russell’s earnings and endorsement profile dwarf Antonelli’s at this stage, though that gap will narrow fast.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is taller, Kimi Antonelli or George Russell?
George Russell is taller at 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m), compared to Kimi Antonelli at 5 ft 11 in (1.80 m).
What is the height difference between Kimi Antonelli and George Russell?
The gap is about 2 inches (5 cm). It is visible in podium and line-up photos, with Antonelli’s shoulders sitting just below Russell’s.
Who weighs more, Kimi Antonelli or George Russell?
Neither — both Mercedes drivers are listed at roughly 154 lbs (70 kg) with a lean athletic build, as F1 teams target the FIA’s 82 kg driver-plus-seat minimum.
Who is older, Kimi Antonelli or George Russell?
George Russell, born February 15, 1998, is 27. Kimi Antonelli, born August 25, 2006, is 19 — an eight-year age gap.
Who is richer, Kimi Antonelli or George Russell?
George Russell, with an estimated net worth of around $18 million versus roughly $2 million for Antonelli. These are third-party estimates, not verified earnings.
Are Antonelli and Russell tall for Formula 1 drivers?
Yes, both sit above the grid average. Russell ranks among the tallest alongside Esteban Ocon and Alex Albon, while Yuki Tsunoda is listed around 5 ft 2 in.
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Last Updated: October 28, 2026 | Source: Healthy Celeb
