Mercedes duo George Russell and Lewis Hamilton are getting along well. While Hamilton guides his young Briton counterpart, Russell also cherishes racing alongside a seven-time world champion. Together they’ve pushed the W13 to its limits, despite the car lacking performance throughout the year.
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Interestingly, the Silver Arrows have been suffering for quite a while since the car couldn’t match its rivals’ pace. Despite being behind, the Russell-Hamilton duo has managed podiums, the last one being a Mercedes double podium. They’ve worked in harmony and peace till now, with Russell settling in much faster than fans would have expected.
Hungry to somehow reach the podiums, the British pair have been exceptionally good this year. Russell recently opened up about what it means to race with Hamilton.
That was a cool race!! Mega happy to be back on the podium after some hard battles and even better to make it a double for @MercedesAMGF1 with @LewisHamilton. Let’s keep pushing, team. 👊 pic.twitter.com/EwcavVpTdk
— George Russell (@GeorgeRussell63) July 24, 2022
“I’m racing against Lewis Hamilton. I’ve got such an opportunity to continue to push myself. And there are only small details, but having that opportunity week-in, week-out. I will definitely be a greater driver by the end of this year than I would have been had I not been his team-mate.”
Russell has indeed driven remarkably this year, garnering praise from the fraternity. With a streak of top 5 finishes, he is currently ahead of Hamilton. Further, his attentiveness, sharpness, and skills with the car have shocked many, proving that his talent was flying under the radar all this while.
George Russell showing Lewis Hamilton-like traits?
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On two special occasions, Russell has stunned the Formula 1 world, marking himself as a potential future world championship contender. And who did he cause trouble? Good old team rivals; Red Bull. At the Spanish GP, the driver did not let Max Verstappen pass, who, notably, was in a better car.
He defended so well; it left Verstappen frustrated and angry on the radio. Notably, only a three-stop strategy allowed Verstappen the lead over Russell that day. At the very recent French GP, Russell caught Sergio Perez napping after the safety car restart and quickly gained places.
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The move was reviewed, but it was clear that Russell was sharp as a tack and managed to hold Perez back. So, are we witnessing a future world champion in the making?
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