George Russell Dubs Lewis Hamilton’s Success the Reason Behind Cordial Relationship

The 2022 F1 season started off with George Russell coming to Mercedes to replace Alfa Romeo-bound Valtteri Bottas and partner Lewis Hamilton to spearhead the attack. As the season came to an end in November last year, Russell surprised everyone with his performance as he went on to have the giant slayer tag after defeating the seven-time world champion in the same machinery. However, the relationship between the two remained the same and Hamilton was reportedly fine with the final standings as he has almost won everything in the sport. Talking about this, the 24-year-old shared his take on why the relationship is still good despite the rivalry growing in and why Hamilton is so cool about it.

In a recently surfaced interview by Auto Motor Und Sport, Russell shared, “Lewis and I have a good relationship. I think when you’ve maybe looked in the past, maybe there’s been a slightly closer age gap between the two and there’s been people fighting for, let’s say, the top spot within the team. But we’ve Lewis and I, you know, there’s no top spot.”

“You know we’re both on equal playing field, and Lewis is on the latter phase of his career. I’m just at the start of my career, so we just have very different points. He’s had all of the success. He has nothing more to prove and I’m yeah, I’m obviously young. I’m here just to try and win races and I think you know we’re helping, trying to help one another,” he concluded.

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George Russell finished his 2022 F1 season with 275 points, which was 35 points more than Hamilton. Moreover, the Briton picked up the only win for the Silver Arrows last year. If Russell, who was very consistent in 2022, manages to perform this way year after year, he might soon become a headache for Hamilton.

George Russell banks on Mercedes’s success with Lewis Hamilton

As George Russell prepares himself for the second season at Mercedes, he primarily looks to bank on his relationship with Lewis Hamilton. In order to improve themselves, their performances, and the team as a whole, Russell believes in working together, for the same goal.

During the interview, the Briton further shared, “We’re on this journey, improving the car, trying to get Mercedes back to the top. So, it is just a very different dynamic to let’s say Lewis and Fernando in the past or Sebastian and Webber. Yeah, I can’t think of another, oh Prost and Senna [Alain Prost and Ayrton Senna]. Two people, similar age, battling together.”

The Mercedes driver was further asked if the same relationship would be continue when they are fighting for the championship. To which he replied, ”Yeah, I see no reason why not.”

Russell went on, “It’s obviously going to be a very different dynamic if we fight someone for every race we can. But I think we’re both mature enough and experienced enough to know what the team needs and the team needs harmony, and it’s a good relationship to be able to push it forward.”

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The former Williams driver also emphasized the possible outcome if their relationship fails in the days to come. Although things seem all hunky-dory at the Brackley’s base, the day Mercedes rolls out a championship-winning car, we may end up seeing the second installment of the silver war.