At the dawn of his leadership career at Mercedes, George Russell remains resolutely focused on his future, determined to follow in the footsteps of his predecessor while forging his own legend in F1.
After three seasons spent as a duo with Lewis Hamilton at Mercedes, George Russell now feels ready to take on the role of team leader. With his experience, he believes he has demonstrated that he can compete with, or even surpass, the seven-time champion. of the world.
A position which is part of the rise in power of the British driver, who seems ready to write a new chapter in his career in Formula 1.
Convincing performances alongside Hamilton
Since his arrival in F1, George Russell has never hidden his ambition to compete with the best, and he proved it by sharing the Mercedes team with Lewis Hamilton. In three seasons, Russell has managed to establish himself as a serious competitor for his teammate.
With three victories to his name compared to two for Hamilton, he also managed to overtake him in the general classification twice, in 2022 and 2024. However, despite his solid individual performances, Mercedes has not regained the domination that it previously practiced, in particular due to the technical difficulties encountered since the introduction of the new regulations in 2022.
Russell faces a legend
If the competition was tough with Hamilton, Russell takes great satisfaction from his results. For him, sharing a team with a driver he admired when he was younger, and competing with him, remains an unforgettable experience.
“It was incredible to team up with him for three years. Today I know I can be at his level” he confided in a recent interview with
MotorsportWeek.
One of Russell's strengths is his driving style, which is particularly suited to current generation cars and 18-inch Pirelli tires. In 2024, he even dominated his teammate in qualifying with a score of 18-5, highlighting his ability to get the best out of modern single-seaters. However, he remains modest about his results.
“I have always performed well in qualifying, regardless of the type of carhe insists. But against someone like Lewis, it’s more noticeable.”
The future of Mercedes in his hands
Hamilton's departure to Ferrari and the arrival of Andrea Kimi Antonelli mark a turning point for Mercedes. At 25 years old, George Russell now becomes the leader of the team. A position of responsibility that he will have to assume while guiding Mercedes towards renewal after several difficult years. His confidence acquired by facing Hamilton could prove valuable for this new stage.
Some of his statements may have come across as arrogance, but for Russell, they are a reflection of his continued progress.
“It was an honor to compete against someone like him, but it also showed me that I could take on this challenge”
he adds.
At the dawn of his leadership career at Mercedes, he remains resolutely focused on his future, determined to follow in the footsteps of his predecessor while forging his own legend in F1.
