George Russell's arrival at Mercedes was a hugely impressive one. First his one-off stoppage, then the way he gradually but decisively dominated seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton, hinted at serious things to come.
In 2022, his first year at Mercedes, for example, he took the team's only win, and that year, as he did last year, he outscored his multiple world champion teammate. That's why Russell - perhaps rightly - feels that if he had come a little earlier, if he had been given a chance a little earlier, he could have been world champion by now. Maybe even twice.
"Being in Lewis' shadow wasn't easy. I was a teammate of the seven-time world champion for three seasons, and that came at an unfortunate time for me. There were times when, if you finished ahead of Hamilton, it certainly meant winning the race, but above all, the championship. That's why I think if I had been given the opportunity by Toto Wolff earlier, I could have had two championships already.
Now it is also my goal, to become a world champion. I am doing everything in my power, doing my job, as in previous years. I am working with the same engineering team, with the same mechanics, and I believe that a consistent and persistent approach will soon pay off,” said George Russell.
Photo: F1
