British driver George Russell joined reigning champions Mercedes ahead of the 2022 F1 season. Although relatively young, Russell is one of the most sought-after drivers on the F1 grid. After winning the 2018 GP2 championship, the 23-year-old made his Formula 1 debut for the Williams team at the 2019 Australian Grand Prix.
DISPLAY
The article continues below this ad
His predecessor Valtteri Bottas was successful in the team, but often had to play second fiddle to Lewis Hamilton. Mercedes had two drivers fighting for the championship from 2013 to 2016 and that hurt the atmosphere in the team. Now that Russell joins alongside Lewis Hamilton, the team’s performance dynamic could take another turn.
The young Brit was recently asked if he would read Hamilton to help curate his journey into 2022. He had a pretty direct answer to that.
DISPLAY
The article continues below this ad
Formula One F1 – Young Driver Test – Yas Marina Circuit, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates – December 14, 2021 Mercedes’ George Russell during testing REUTERS/Hamad I Mohammed
George Russell will not study Lewis Hamilton
When Russell replaced Hamilton during the 2020 Sakhir Grand Prix, fans witnessed what he can do with a competitive car. In a recent interview reported by Gpfans, Russell discussed his approach with the Brackley-based team.
When asked if Russell would study Hamilton to gain an advantage, Russell replied, “No, there will be no study of Lewis. That’s because he’s great at adapting to situations.”
DISPLAY
The article continues below this ad
“We have a brand new car. Nobody knows what is the best way to drive this car [will be]. I am sure that a 2022 Mercedes car will be different from a 2021 Mercedes car and will also be compared to a Red Bull, a Ferrari and a McLaren. They will all have their little quirks about them.”
Russell has started preparations for the 2022 season with the Silver Arrows team. He recently shared a picture of himself donning the Mercedes ensemble from his first day at Brackley. The Brit also shared his thoughts on preparing for the Mercedes Intensity. “From the racing side, the off-track side, it’s going to be incredibly intense, so I’m going to hit the ground running with a nice holiday, a fresh start, mid to late January, put everything on the table and go for it.”
BAHRAIN, BAHRAIN – MARCH 28: Race winner Lewis Hamilton of Great Britain and Mercedes GP are congratulated by George Russell of Great Britain and Williams at parc ferme during the Bahrain F1 Grand Prix at Bahrain International Circuit on March 28, 2021 in Bahrain, Bahrain . (Photo by Dan Istitene – Formula One/Formula 1 via Getty Images)
Fans and F1 stars are eagerly awaiting the start of the new season with the Bahrain GP weekend. How excited are you to see George Russell in Mercedes?
DISPLAY
The article continues below this ad
DIVE DEEPER
Did you enjoy reading this article? Download our exclusive app for 24/7 coverage, the latest memes and social media banter. Click here to download.
Did you miss our previous article...
https://formulaone.news/mclaren/the-bmw-7-series-special-edition-the-final-v12-marks-the-end-of-v12-production
