Will we see Mercedes fireworks this season?
Mercedes
George Russell has shone a light on his relationship with Mercedes team-mate Lewis Hamilton, saying “We need one another to help along the way” in the Silver Arrows’ fightback to the front.
In an exclusive interview in this month’s magazine, Russell also expands on the battle to get the W13 competitive, what he learnt from three years at the back with Williams and his target of a world title next year.
Following his signing to the Mercedes team for 2022, a famous image of an 11-year-old Russell patiently waiting for an autograph from Hamilton in 2008 was shared thousands of times in celebration.
Now though, F1’s newest winner says the two drivers stand on an equal footing.
“I think we have a lot of dialogue between the two of us,” he says. “And when we’re talking about certain issues, we’re almost verifying one another. ‘Are you feeling this as well? Yeah, I am feeling this.’ And when you’ve got both drivers pushing in the same direction, that really helps the development of the team, of the pace, of the performance.
“And I think that it really helps, that we’ve got a really strong and transparent relationship. And I think it helps that we’re both at different points in our career, and I don’t think there’s any sort of ego there from either side.
“We respect one another,” he emphasises. “And I think that’s really been a big factor into that development that we’ve had as a team this year.”
Hamilton congratulates F1’s newest winner in Brazil
Mercedes
Throughout the season, the two have been neck and neck on pace most of the time. Though Russell was been able to ultimately stretch out a gap of 35 points over Hamilton, the man from King’s Lynn says the intensity of the on-track competition has never resulted in bad blood between the pair.
“Absolutely, we’ve not had any scenarios to have any falling outs, we’ve got that good relationship, we’ve always had respect for one another.
“And obviously, we were in a unique position in that we were not fighting for a championship, and our duty was to really try and push the team forward.
“But I think the relationships we’ve built upon this year [is strong] and even if we are fighting for a championship next year, I’m sure we’ll always keep professional.”
The ups and downs of a porpoising Mercedes W13 has meant both drivers have had to focus in hard on solving performance issues, but if anything Russell believes this has made their relationship stronger.
“We’re obviously both very competitive, and we both want to win,” he says. “Obviously, he wants to beat me, and I want to beat him, that’s only natural from every single racing driver.
“But I think because we are on this journey together, we almost need one another to help along the way. Every year, every situation is different. But I think the team have always been very clear on how important it is that the two of us get along, from their own experiences as well.”
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