George Russell has all the ingredients to challenge Lewis Hamilton in the Mercedes team duel – What Martin Brundle and Damon Hill say about him
George Russell has put an exclamation mark on just his second Grand Prix weekend as a Mercedes regular: In qualifying in Jeddah, the young Briton finished sixth on the grid, while team-mate Lewis Hamilton was already eliminated in Q1. Even before the start of the season, two ex-drivers were praising Russell to the skies.
These are ‘Sky UK’ TV pundits Martin Brundle and Damon Hill. “There’s going to be a lot of pressure,” Brundle noted at the time. “For me it’s always like a bright light on a flower. Some flowers blossom, some flowers die. And I think George has the confidence to deal with it. He certainly has the talent.”
Indeed, at the Bahrain opener, Russell still had his struggles to match Hamilton’s level at the crucial moments. He finished well behind in qualifying, but Mercedes took the blame for that. On the other hand, things went uphill on Sunday and he finished the Grand Prix one place behind the seven-time champion.
In addition to his skills at the wheel, there is something else in Russell’s favour, as Formula One expert Brundle explains: “He knows the team. He’s not coming to a completely new team, he knows them all so well because he worked there for years as a junior driver. So he has the best chance of anyone and I expect big things from him.”
But can Russell consistently deliver top performances? That’s the biggest question mark for Brundle too. In the junior series, the Briton had shown that he can bring in championships. In 2017, he won the GP3 series, and the following year the Formula 2 title as a rookie. But the premier class is a whole different world again.
Damon Hill with simple advice for George Russell
Hill has some simple-sounding advice for Russell: “Just make sure you’re fast. You might have to go faster than you’ve ever gone before.” The 1996 Formula 1 World Champion speaks from experience. At the start of his time as a Williams regular, he first got up against Alain Prost, then Ayrton Senna.
“I mean, it’s a big step. He’s been in Formula One now, so he’s very familiar with the business and he knows the team very well. So he’s not completely out of his comfort zone,” Hill continued. “But that’s what happens when you can’t keep up with your teammate for a long period of time and you get questions. You don’t want to be asked those questions halfway through the season!”
Russell also has a step to take mentally, Hill notes. The Mercedes newcomer still displays “a certain impetuosity”. Hill cites the Emilia-Romagna GP in Imola in 2021 as an example, when Russell crashed into Valtteri Bottas in a duel.
Nevertheless, Hill says appreciatively, “I think he has a very smart head on his shoulders, but he’s also passionate. And that’s a good combination. Certainly he will think things through. He’s very articulate, so you’ll get great answers from him.” But what’s important is great performances on the track, like in Jeddah qualifying.
