George Russell's arrival at Mercedes was a spectacular one. First, his race debut, then the way he gradually but decisively dominated seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton, foretold important things.
In 2022, his first year at Mercedes, he took the team's only victory, for example, and in that year, as well as last year, he surpassed his teammate, the multiple world champion. That's why Russell - perhaps rightly - feels that if he had come a little earlier, if he had been given an earlier chance, he could have been world champion by now. Maybe even twice.
"Being in Lewis' shadow wasn't easy. For three seasons I was a teammate of a seven-time world champion, and that came at an unfortunate time for me. It was a time when, if you finished ahead of Hamilton, it definitely meant a race win, but most importantly, a championship title. That's why I think if I had been given an opportunity earlier from Toto Wolff, I could have already had two world titles.
Now, this is my goal, to become world champion. I am doing everything I can, doing my job, just like in previous years. I am working with the same team of engineers, with the same mechanics, and I believe that the consistent and persistent approach will soon bear fruit.” - said George Russell.
Photo: F1
