George Russell has pointed to Lewis Hamilton’s age when he dominated with Mercedes to indicate that he isn’t getting impatient to achieve success in Formula 1.
Having spent three seasons mired at the back with a struggling Williams, Russell was promoted to a Mercedes seat in 2022 to partner seven-time F1 champion Hamilton.
The Briton’s move up the grid coincided with a vast overhaul to the technical regulations, which the German marque entered having won eight consecutive Constructors’ titles.
However, the return to ground effect cars brought a shuddering halt to Mercedes’ unprecedented reign as five wins have come in the last three seasons combined.
Russell has taken three of those, including two last year in Austria and Las Vegas, but Mercedes hasn’t been able to give him the tools to mount a championship challenge.
But Russell, 26, has suggested that he isn’t concerned his time has come and gone to secure the ultimate prize amid the next generation breaking into the sport in 2025.
Russell used Hamilton as an example to underline his point, his compatriot winning six titles in his 30s with Mercedes between 2014 and 2020 to add to his 2008 triumph.
“I am entering a new chapter in my career,” Russell said in an interview with Mercedes. “I am ending my beginning and entering the mid-stage.
Lewis was 29 when he joined Mercedes [in 2013] and started winning all those championships, and Michael [Schumacher] was early 30s at Ferrari [where he won five titles].
“Nowadays everyone starts younger and younger – my debut came at 20.
“But I feel ready now to fulfil roles at the team, but the most important part of that is driving as quickly as possible, and I feel in a good place to do that.
“I’ll continue to want to learn and be open and take nothing for granted. You either have the speed or you don’t, but there is no doubt these guys coming in are going to be competitive.”
Russell prepared to take on senior role
A quarter of the grid will embark upon their rookie F1 campaigns in 2025, including the driver who has been entrusted to succeed the now-departed Hamilton at Mercedes.
Andrea Kimi Antonelli, 18, has been chosen to partner Russell, who has acknowledged the Italian’s promotion will place an added emphasis on him to attain headline results.
“I recognise my role as the more experienced driver,” he added.
“There are a lot of great young drivers coming onto the grid, and it makes you realise you are no longer the youngster.”
“But this is not the beginning of the end, rather the end of the beginning.”
Russell backs Antonelli to thrive at Mercedes
The scepticism attached to Antonelli making his debut with a team expected to be at the sharp end heightened when he crashed two laps into his maiden FP1 outing at Monza.
However, Russell is adamant that his new team-mate, who has accumulated almost 9000 kilometres testing previous F1 cars, has the attributes to hit the ground running.
“He is such a fantastic driver,” Russell said on Antonelli. “He does not have the experience yet, but I am sure he will be up to speed very quickly.
“He has already integrated so well. We have both been racing from a young age and we know what needs to be fed back to the team. He is young, but his opinion will be just as valid.”
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