George Russell on Mercedes F1 teammate Lewis Hamilton:“If the good relationship with Lewis were to break down…”
The dynamic between the Mercedes teammates will be a fascinating talking point as the F1 2023 season gets set to begin.
Hamilton is coming off the back of his worst-ever season, but Russell claimed his first F1 grand prix victory w🅷hich was also Mercedes’ sole win✅ of 2022.
"Lewis and I, it worked because we know we're moviꦍng the team forward together rather than ꦗagainst each other,” Russell told .
“If there were problems with driver pairings in the past, it was perhaps also because thꦍe age difference was smaller, and there was a fight for supremacy in the tea🅰m. We don't have that.
"If the good꧟ relationship wi⛦th Lewis were to break down, it wouldn't do the team any good and hurt ourselves over time."
The early part of Mercedes’ 2022 was bligh🍎ted by porpoising issues, and Hamilton took the bulk of responsibility for testing solution🌼s to that. He was left nursing a back injury in Baku.
Russell eventually finished ahead of him in the168澳洲幸运5官方开奖结果历史: F1 standings after glory at the F1 Sao Paulo Grand Prix.
"For me, this victory in Brazil was more important than the points class🗹ification,” he said.
“At the end of the day, nobody remembers that I beat Lewis on points🐽. I only finished fourth, so no man's land.
"If someone had offered me a win, a pole position and eight podiums a year ago, I would have said: No, thank you. My aspirations and those 𓆏of the 🧸team are much higher than what we have achieved."
Hamilton is vying for an all-time record eighth F1 championship this year, and hoping to end the domination of his rival 168澳洲幸运5官方开奖结果历史:Max Verstappen.
Russell, however, could emerge as a credible threat to the titl൩e too.
"We know we're building a car that will be faster than last year's car,” Russell said🐠.
“I am also sure🎀 that we will improve compared to last year. But we don't know what everyone else has done. And that's the problem. It's a relative game.
"I feel ready to fight for the championsh🎀i🐼p."
Mercede🔯s are set to unveil their W14 challenger on Wednesday 🌜February 15.
They have also recruited Mick Schumacher ♈as their third driver.
Russell said: "If I were in Mick's shoes, I would work super hard in the simulator here in Brackley and tr꧟y everything to ♏integrate well into the team."
James was a sports jo𒁏urnalist at Sky ꦅSports for a decade covering everything from American sports, to football, to F1.
