Mercedes have been right at the top while competing for the championship in the past decade. Despite this season being a rare failure for the Silver Arrows, Lewis Hamilton and co. will be looking to fight back again next season. However, former Ferrari and Williams team manager Peter Windsor believes that if Mercedes do manage to roll out a title-challenging car, things between Lewis and his teammate George Russell might get ugly. He even predicted it to be uglier than how things were with 2016 champion, Nico Rosberg.

Lewis and George had contrasting seasons last year. George impressed in his first-ever season with the Silver Arrows. He also scored the only victory for Mercedes in Brazil. Meanwhile, Lewis finished P6 in the WDC and ended the season without a win for the first time in his career. Moreover, things in the Mercedes camp could turn ugly next season, according to the Formula One journalist.

Peter Windsor predicts an uglier drama than Hamilton v Rosberg between the current Mercedes drivers

Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg were involved in a title fight, which soon turned bitter. The pair were childhood friends, but things changed during their time as teammates together in Mercedes. Both the drivers were fighting for the title and the competitiveness got the better of the pair.

Former Ferrari team manager Peter Windsor said via his Twitch channel, “I think it’ll be 10 times worse than Rosberg/Hamilton. I think what you saw in Barcelona on that opening lap [in 2016] between Lewis and Nico is just the start of it between George and Lewis. Up another level.”

“George is tough and hard and he’s going to drive into Lewis quite a lot if they’re in race-winning, Championship-winning cars, for sure. I think Lewis will still be Lewis – he’s still the best driver I’ve ever seen, since Niki [Lauda] maybe, at not getting involved in somebody else’s accident – but George will be right there every race.”

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However, Lewis Hamilton publicly stated that his relationship with George Russell was great. He previously lauded the King’s Lynn boy for his impressive work at Williams.

Lewis Hamilton credits George Russell for keeping “equilibrium” to the team

You know you’re on the right track when you hear Lewis Hamilton singing your praise. The 7-time champion was happy with the former Williams driver’s performance this season. He also praised him for bringing balance to the team while discussing his relationship with Russell.

As per PlanetF1, Lewis told the reporters before the Brazilian GP, “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.”

“He’s helped keep the equilibrium in the team, in terms of the working relationship I think it’s strong.”

Russell finished P4 in the WDC and put in some impressive performances despite not having a competitive car this season. He’ll be hoping to win more races next season in a better car.

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Can the Mercedes pair fight for the title again next year or will the W14 struggle like its predecessor?