Exclusive:
Rally racer Gwen Lagrue also looks after Mercedes’ driver development programme and has helped turn George Russell into the race he is today, and is also involved in Esteban Ocon’s search for a new seat
The man who has nurtured George Russell into the driver he is today has backed the Brit to ably lead Mercedes into a future without Lewis Hamilton.
The seven-time F1 champion is heading to Ferrari and looks likely to be replaced by teenager Andrea Kimi Antonelli. The 17-year-old was racing at Formula Regional level this time last year but was fast-tracked to Formula 2 and won his first race in the Sprint at Silverstone on Saturday.
It means Russell, who beat Hamilton to pole position for the British Grand Prix shortly after, will be tasked with leading the team into the future. Gwen Lagrue, Mercedes’ driver programme advisor, has guided Russell’s journey since the junior formulae and is convince the Briton has what it takes to fill his team-mate’s shoes.
“Yeah, absolutely,” he told Mirror Sport without hesitation, when asked that question at a ‘Fuel Reinvented’ event at synthetic fuel firm Zero Petroleum’s base in Bicester. “He already has been for a few years. We just need a bit more performance and I’m sure he’s capable of fighting at the front, no problem.”
Russell’s promotion to Mercedes coincided with a decline in the team’s fortunes. They had won eight constructors’ titles in a row but that streak came to an end in 2022, the same year he was promoted from Williams, as Red Bull came to the fore.
He did still secure his maiden victory that year, at the Brazilian Grand Prix. But he had to wait until late last month to double that tally, taking advantage of the collision between Max Verstappen and Lando Norris to fly through and win in Austria.
It was also the team’s first victory since that day in Sao Paulo and Lagrue spoke of the sense of delight and relief Mercedes staff felt when Russell got over the line at the Red Bull Ring. He said: “It’s always a great pleasure, and emotional, of course.
“I was mainly happy also for the team and the 2,000 employees at Mercedes who are working their a***s off to have this kind of result. Of course it was a bit lucky there, but we’ll take it and we’re looking forward to Silverstone.”
Mercedes have plenty of other young drivers on the books besides the two they currently run in F1. Antonelli is getting plenty of attention right now given his situation, but others include last year’s F2 runner-up Frederik Vesti of Denmark, who is a reserve this season alongside Mick Schumacher, and Chinese F4 racer Yuanpu Cui.
Esteban Ocon also remains on the books despite having several years of F1 experience with other teams. The Frenchman is leaving Alpine at the end of the season and is expected to join Oliver Bearman at Haas. Lagrue was tight-lipped on that situation but said he hopes the move will be announced in “a couple of weeks”.
Learn more
Catch all the action from Formula One on Sky Sports and get exclusive access to races, qualifying and much more for every Grand Prix. From Max Verstappen to Lewis Hamilton, you won’t miss a lap on Sky Sports.
