Emilia Romagna GP: George Russell Quashes Rumors of Lewis Hamilton Feud

The sport of F1 is no stranger to a wide variety of rumors. The biggest one in recent times that has been doing the rounds pertains to Lewis Hamilton and George Russell. Or more specifically, the fact that the two haven’t spoken to each other since the infamous Sakhir Grand Prix. However, ahead of the second race of the 2021 calendar, Russell has set the record straight.

The Williams man revealed that these rumors are just rumors, they aren’t true. Russell said that his relationship with Hamilton hasn’t changed since that race in Bahrain, and he treats Hamilton just as he would treat any other driver on the grid.

Speaking at the drivers’ press conference Russell clarified what he had earlier said, “I think the question to me was ‘did you speak to Lewis after Bahrain’ and no, we didn’t speak, as we wouldn’t speak after any other race.

“If we see each other in the paddock, we would speak. We have seen each other this year, a little fist bump along the way. That’s been the same as it has been since 2019. My relationship towards Lewis is the same as a lot of other drivers.

“So there’s no hard feelings, no issues between myself and Lewis.”

Russell hasn’t been the only one to comment on the rumors. Even Mercedes boss Toto Wolff spoke about them earlier. And while he expressed his surprise at these rumors he certainly didn’t rule it out.

Can George Russell stake his claim for a Mercedes seat irrespective of Lewis Hamilton’s future?

It’s probably best if Russell doesn’t have a tiff with Lewis, considering they may well be teammates next year. Thanks to that very same drive in Bahrain, where Russell almost won the race, the Briton has catapulted himself to the front of the line in terms of getting a drive with Mercedes.

Whether that would be as Valtteri Bottas replacement or a Hamilton replacement, at this point of time, it seems fairly certain that George’s future is with the Silver Arrows.

However, a lot can happen between now and the end of the season. Therefore, the Williams man will need to be on his toes. He’ll need to bring out the kind of performances he did last year to further his case.

Maybe a spot in the top 10 at Imola will go a long way, who knows? But one thing’s certain, Russell will be doing his best to catch the eye of Mercedes.

Also Read: Emilia Romagna GP: Mercedes F1 Taunt Lewis Hamilton for Not Showing Up at Imola