1978 Formula 1 World Champion Mario Andretti has singled out George Russell for praise and issued quiet optimism that there potentially could be three teams in the fight for the title in 2023.
Despite a difficult year for Mercedes, Russell emerged as one of the stars of last season by claiming his first pole position in Hungary and following it up with a maiden win in Brazil, along with out-scoring his illustrious seven-time world champion, Lewis Hamilton, as well.
Ahead of the new season, Andretti singled out admiration for the way in which the young Brit conducted himself throughout his debut year fighting at the front of the field.
“If you look at his performance last year, not only in qualifying but also his racing strength, you have to see him as a revelation,” he claimed in an interview with RTL.
While the German automotive giant was unable to provide both Hamilton and Russell with the machinery to fight for either championship, Andretti is confident Mercedes will bounce back to be in title contention – alongside the two teams above them last year: world champions, Red Bull, and Ferrari – during the second year of the most recent rule’s revolution.
Speaking on the topic of the Silver Arrows being a potent threat again, Andretti said: “You have to assume that they fight back as hard as they always have.
“Can you imagine if we had three teams fighting hard and every now and then a fourth team like McLaren sticks its nose in?”
Andretti’s desire for McLaren to enter the mix occasionally has resonated with the recent hopes of Lando Norris as the British star has challenged his McLaren team to make a similar step to what Ferrari achieved between 2021 and 2022.
The Italian side went from competing with McLaren for third in the championship to winning four races and being classified runner-up in the standings last year, while McLaren slipped back to fifth place behind Alpine.
Elsewhere, the American is also excited about the combination of Fernando Alonso at Aston Martin and expects big things following the two-time champion’s arrival as the Silverstone side aim to improve upon a lacklustre previous two seasons.
“If they have their factory and all that together, besides, Fernando Alonso is there now,” he said.
