Despite Losing Out on Mercedes Battle, Lewis Hamilton Tips His Hat To George Russell

In his first year as Mercedes’ regular driver, George Russell secured his maiden race win. He even outscored his teammate, Lewis Hamilton, on points. As the young Brit impressed in a tough season for Silver Arrows, Hamilton praised him for his consistency and for fitting easily into the team.

Coming from Mercedes’ young driver program, George Russell drove for Williams. Despite the team being among the bottom performers, Russell impressed by scoring the majority of points for the team in 2021. Russell got his chance to drive for Mercedes in a one-off race in 2020. Replacing Lewis Hamilton, he had a great race but one which saw him unluckily miss out on a strong finish.

Lewis Hamilton lauds George Russell for fitting in perfectly on the team

2022 was perhaps the most unlucky year for George Russell to join Mercedes. The team saw its 8-year constructors’ championship run break at the hands of rivals Red Bull. The Silver Arrows struggled until the midpoint of the season with porpoising issues. However, towards the end of the season, Mercedes got its mojo back as they managed their only win in Brazil.

Speaking with reporters in Brazil, Hamilton praised George. “I’ve seen what he did at Williams,” he told. “I think naturally you have to say it’s impressive what he’s done this year, the consistency he’s had, how he’s arrived and just hit the ground running.”

“It’s been super easy to blend in. He uses my steering wheel, and he’s obviously got to do the test days prior to the year, so I think he’s just blended in perfectly and he’s been a positive force in the team.”

Read More: Max Verstappen Doesn’t Mind It Being Lonely at the Top: “It’s Just Nice”

The weekend in Brazil was perfect for Mercedes. The team had a 1-2 finish where Russell finished ahead while the two raced against each other to the chequered flag.

George Russell reveals what it was like racing against Lewis Hamilton

While Russell and Hamilton fought against each other in the final stages of the Brazilian GP, the duo remained respectful. Neither of the drivers made any aggressive maneuvers against the other, prioritizing the result for the team. Speaking post-race, Russell told what it was like racing against the 7-time world champion.

He said, “You know, when you look into the mirrors and you see Lewis Hamilton there, I just knew how fast he was and I was driving the race of my life. But I knew this was a victory to be taken. So happy to watch that line and so proud of the whole team and the work we’ve done this season.”

Watch This Story: WATCH: George Russell’s Lonely Moment on Baku Podium Amid Glorious Red Bull Celebration

It would be interesting to see the dynamic between the two if Mercedes remain competitive next year. Will the respect continue? Or will we see some teammate vs teammate action?