George Russell has expressed that his stint with Lewis Hamilton proved to him that he can operate “at a minimum” of his ex-Mercedes team-mate’s level in Formula 1.
Russell’s partnership with Hamilton has come to an end with the latter’s move to Ferrari, with rookie Andrea Kimi Antonelli taking the seven-time F1 champion’s place.
The Briton stacked up well across his three seasons alongside Hamilton, managing three victories to his compatriot’s two and outscoring him in both 2022 and 2024.
However, Russell matching Hamilton didn’t deliver as much success as he perhaps would’ve expected amid Mercedes’ struggles since the regulation change in 2022.
The German marque entered that reset having won an unmatched eight straight Constructors’ titles, but it has experienced trouble with the current ground effect cars.
Russell has still derived confidence from how he handled going up against the series’ most decorated name, though, as he prepares to lead Mercedes from next term.
“He’s 10 years older than me, and he’s who I looked up to when I was go-karting, because that was maybe more relatable for me,” Russell told The Times regarding his older brother Benjy’s influence on his racing career.
“He was winning races in go-karts, and he was winning British championships, World Championships, and that’s what I wanted to do, because I could visually see him doing that.
“But without doubt, I’ll always remember my first F1 race for Mercedes in Abu Dhabi 2016, the Nico [Rosberg] and Lewis race, and just being in the same room as him in the debrief, listening to it all unfold.
“I was starstruck being there in that moment.
“So for sure it is surreal that we’ve now been team-mates for three years, and that I know within myself that I can perform at a minimum of his level.”
Russell evaluates his driving style
Russell imposed a crushing 18-5 head-to-head loss on Hamilton last season in qualifying as his team-mate toiled with the W15’s recalcitrant tendencies over one lap.
When asked whether he sensed his driving style was suited to extracting the best time from the current machines and the 18-inch Pirelli tyres on a hotlap, Russell told Autosport: “I think probably my natural driving style has worked well in these cars.
“But, equally, my qualifying record against my team-mates in the previous generation was good and in every category my qualifying records have been strong.”
Russell, though, dismissed that it was something “particular with this generation”, highlighting that Hamilton being his “toughest” rival “highlighted [it] a bit more”.
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