Lewis Hamilton Shows Maturity and Class With Latest George Russell Admission

Williams’ driver George Russell is going to make his Mercedes debut alongside Lewis Hamilton in 2022, a moment that fans have been eagerly waiting for. In one of the most exciting driver transfers of the season, Mercedes boss, Toto Wolff, signed Russell for their team.

As a bright young driver, he is expected to fare well in his new team, as he has consistently performed by scoring important points for Williams in 2021. In a recent interview, his future teammate Lewis Hamilton spoke about Russell’s role in the team. He also discussed possibilities of any clashes between the seven-time World Champion and the rising talent in F1.

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Lewis Hamilton believes Russell will be at the front at times

George has done exceedingly well with Williams, constantly outscoring his teammate and scoring a podium too. The young Briton is expected to give Hamilton a welcome challenge once he gets settled in the Silver Arrows car. Many people believe Russell will never play second fiddle to Hamilton, and he will try to gain as many podiums as his veteran teammate.

Formula One F1 – Russian Grand Prix – Sochi Autodrom, Sochi, Russia – September 26, 2021, Mercedes’ Lewis Hamilton after winning the race Pool via REUTERS/Yuri Kochetkov

Hamilton showed class and maturity as he agreed to this. He said, “George, I imagine, is going to be similar to me when I got to Formula 1. He’s going to be hungry—he’s got everything to gain nothing to lose, throw everything and the kitchen sink at it. That’s what I would expect. He will get amazing support from our engineers. He’s got an amazing amount of support to be welcomed in, and we will try to work as team-mates.”

Hamilton is not ready to leave an inch of space for Russell

While acknowledging the fact that there will be times when Russell does better than him in their Mercedes cars, Hamilton did mention that he will try to make sure that never happens. He reckoned that both of them will get top-of-the-line facilities, and thus, they will try their hardest to come out at the top.

ABU DHABI, UNITED ARAB EMIRATES – NOVEMBER 22: ART Grand Prix Formula 2 driver George Russell of Great Britain and Williams F1 and Lewis Hamilton of Great Britain and Mercedes GP talk in the Drivers Press Conference during previews ahead of the Abu Dhabi Formula One Grand Prix at Yas Marina Circuit on November 22, 2018, in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. (Photo by Clive Mason/Getty Images)

“There is respect there, but I know he is going to win races, I know he is going to be fast, I’m sure if we have got the package, he will do a great job and there will be times where he is at the front and I’m okay with that. I’ll just work harder to make sure that it doesn’t happen.”

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Lewis has had good relationships with his past teammates for the most part, but he has also had some rivalry with a few. A few weeks ago, Toto Wolff said he will see to it that the Russell-Hamilton dynamic does not go the way of Hamilton’s relationship with Nico Rosberg.

Will the recruitment of Russell be Mercedes’ trump card to win the Championship by beating Red Bull? How instrumental will George be in taking Merc to the top once the new aerodynamics rules are set in? That remains to be seen.

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