George Russell makes bold Lewis Hamilton claim after former Mercedes team-mate’s exit

During their three seasons as Mercedes team-mates, George Russell performed well compared to seven-time F1 champion Lewis Hamilton and is confident of leading the Silver Arrows into the future

George Russell is adamant he can now perform at the same level as Lewis Hamilton “at a minimum”.

He has spent the last three years competing alongside and against the seven-time champion at Mercedes. But now Russell is the undisputed Silver Arrows team leader following his fellow Brit’s decision to leave for rivals Ferrari.

Replacing Hamilton is teenager Andrea Kimi Antonelli, about whom Mercedes are particularly excited in terms of what he can achieve in the future. But the 18-year-old begins as understudy to Russell who can now prove his credentials as a team leader.

And, having acquitted himself well up against Hamilton, the 26-year-old recalled what it was like watching his older brother Benjy when he was a child as he explained why he feels he is ready to lead Mercedes into the future.

“He’s 10 years older than me, and he’s who I looked up to when I was go-karting, because that was maybe more relatable for me,” Russell told The Times. “He was winning races in go-karts and he was winning British championships, world championships, and that’s what I wanted to do, because I could visually see him doing that.

“But without doubt, I’ll always remember my first F1 race for Mercedes in Abu Dhabi 2016, the Nico [Rosberg] and Lewis race, and just being in the same room as him in the debrief, listening to it all unfold.

“I was starstruck being there in that moment. So for sure it is surreal that we’ve now been team-mates for three years, and that I know within myself that I can perform at a minimum of his level.”

In 2024, Russell finished one place higher than Hamilton who suffered his lowest ever results in the drivers’ championship. He also dominated the intra-team qualifying competition, having gone quicker than Hamilton on a Saturday 19 times out of 24 – and five times out of six in qualifying for Sprint races.

Mercedes trackside engineering director Andrew Shovlin suggested last year that the current generation of F1 cars is better suited to Russell’s style compared to Hamilton’s, but the younger Brit has rejected that as he said: “I think probably my natural driving style has worked well in these cars.

“But, equally, my qualifying record against my team-mates in the previous generation was good and in every category, my qualifying records have been strong. I don’t think there’s anything particular with this generation. But, obviously, Lewis has been my toughest team-mate, so I think that’s why it’s been highlighted a bit more.”