George Russell will soon be going up and against one of the only two seven-time world champions of F1 this year – Lewis Hamilton. Of course, Russell himself is being regarded as a future star of the sport after having already gained a podium at Williams and almost securing his first race win at Sakhir in 2020.
Nevertheless, for anyone as young as Russell partnering with someone as experienced and dominant as Hamilton is a huge challenge. So, how difficult is Russell’s first Mercedes year going to be? How is he going to cope with the pressure that is likely to come along with this amazing Mercedes F1 opportunity?
Well, Hamilton recently acknowledged the immense pressure that comes with battling alongside a teammate that had won world championship titles. Similar to Russell, his soon-to-be teammate too had a rather high-pressure start to his Formula One career.
ADVERTISEMENT
Article continues below this ad
The former McLaren driver, in his rookie stint, had to compete alongside Fernando Alonso, who had just come out of the 2006 season after winning his second consecutive world championship title.
Watch Story: From Cristiano Ronaldo to Shaquille O’Neal: When Other Athletes Mingled With F1 Stars
I know the pressure that comes with it: Lewis Hamilton
ADVERTISEMENT
Article continues below this ad
As reported by GP Fans, Hamilton affirmed that he is desperately waiting to go head-on against his new teammate, Russell. “I am excited to engage with him, to collaborate with him,” the Mercedes world champion said. “Hopefully, our styles aren’t too dissimilar.
“I know what it is like for him being in a position up against a world champion and I know the pressures that come with it, the expectations, and the external feeling of what it is like. I want him to learn as much as he can and grow as much as he can. I have no doubts he is going to be a strong competitor. I will be focusing to make sure I also do the job to the best of my ability.”
ADVERTISEMENT
Article continues below this ad
Overall, it is likely that Russell might have a hard time keeping up with Hamilton during the early stages of the upcoming season considering the latter’s abundant experience with the car. However, as we march deeper into 2022, will we get to see a lot of wheel-to-wheel from the Mercedes pair?
Read More: Why Do F1 Drivers Wear Balaclavas?