Exclusive: How Mercedes shaped Russell and Antonelli into F1 stars

19:00, 19 Jun

Updated: 19:02, 19 Jun

byTim Kraaij

With George Russell and Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes has two talents from its own academy in the Formula 1 team. What makes the Mercedes junior program so successful was discussed in an exclusive interview with Gwen Lagrue by GPblog.

Over the past years, Mercedes has consistently proven itself as a team that can prepare young talents for Formula 1. While Mercedes entered F1 with established names like Michael Schumacher, Nico Rosberg, Lewis Hamilton, and Valtteri Bottas, now two talents from its own academy are driving in the Mercedes F1 team.

Not every talent makes it to the Mercedes F1 team. Along the way, Pascal Wehrlein and Esteban Ocon made it to Formula 1 but were not deemed good enough for Mercedes. While Mercedes and Wehrlein parted ways, Ocon is still part of the Mercedes program.

And that is perhaps what most characterizes the Mercedes training program. Where other academies may sometimes simply cast drivers aside, Mercedes drivers remain part of the program for a long time. They are picked up young and receive long-term, quality support from Gwen Lagrue and his team.

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Mercedes junior Esteban Ocon and Gwen Lagrue in conversation

What makes the Mercedes training unique?

‘’We always implement the same process. We always add a physical coach, mental coach, etc., but what's important is choosing the right person. So who fits Luna’s (Fluxa, Mercedes talent) character best. What kind of coach does she need? What kind of mental coach does she need? If I put her with this guy it might not work, but with another it might.’’

‘’That's why we spend four years with the talents in go karting. If you spend three, four years with them, then you know the family by heart and I know Luna super well. We’ve built this close relationship. I probably know her better than my own daughter. So, you know everything about her character, and then it's easy to make the right choice.’’

‘’Then I know if I make this guy Luna's physical coach, then it will work. It's about spending time with your drivers and then coming up with the right answer,’’ said the Mercedes-Benz Driver Development Advisor.

Building that relationship with a driver is crucial to extracting the best from a talent, according to Lagrue. Young talents must also be able to make mistakes along the way. They sometimes face difficult situations in their private lives. Should you then drop a talent, or support them?

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Kimi Antonelli and Gwen Lagrue for Mercedes

Albon and Red Bull as an example for Mercedes of how not to do it

‘’I also have examples of kids who get dropped by a program and who still perform a few months or years later. Alex Albon is a good example.’’

Alexander Albon was dropped from the Red Bull program at a young age after a less than stellar season in the lower formula classes. Albon faced personal problems with a mother who was convicted and sentenced to jail. Albon continued racing and was taken under the wing of Gwen Lagrue at Lotus. A few years later, Albon still made his F1 debut with Red Bull, proving he was good enough.

‘’That's why I quickly understood that you need to believe in your driver. You need to support and accept that they have a difficult season or go through difficult times. The outcome is important. Can they perform at the right level again or not. I like to give enough time to perform.’’

‘’Sometimes that doesn't work and then you have to make the tough decision to part ways. After all, we are not a social assistent service. These decisions are always made with the target in mind that we are preparing drivers for F1 or to become world champions. You can always make mistakes, because we are all human. You can't always get it right.’’

In the extensive interview with Gwen Lagrue, the goal of the Mercedes training program was also discussed. The story in which Lagrue explains why Mercedes is not yet satisfied with two drivers in Formula 1 was previously read on GPblog. More from the interview will follow. Lagrue also talked about the young age at which they start scouting and hopes Mercedes will also get a woman into Formula 1 in a few years time.