George Russell and Lewis Hamilton have been teammates at Mercedes since 2022 (Photo: Getty)
George Russell says he wants to make his final season alongside Sir Lewis Hamilton ‘one to remember’ with the seven-time Formula One champion moving to Ferrari next year.
On Thursday, it was announced that Hamilton would be leaving Mercedes for Ferrari in 2025 – news that has shocked the F1 community.
Opening up on his decision to leave the Silver Arrows, with whom he has won six drivers’ titles across 11 years, the 39-year-old explained: ‘I feel incredibly fortunate, after achieving things with Mercedes that I could only have dreamed of as a kid, that I now have the chance to fulfil another childhood dream. Driving in Ferrari red.
‘But the time is right to make a change and take on a new challenge. I still remember the feeling of taking a leap of faith into the unknown when I first joined Mercedes in 2013.
‘I know some people didn’t understand it at the time but I was right to make the move then and it’s the feeling I have again now. I’m excited to see what I can bring to this new opportunity and what we can do together.’
Writing on Twitter, Hamilton’s Mercedes teammate Russell sent a classy message to his fellow Brit: ‘It’s been special racing alongside you. Let’s make this season one to remember.’
Russell impressively beat Hamilton in their first year as teammates in 2022, but the veteran showed the 25-year-old that he still has much to learn by finishing some 59 points ahead in the standings last year.
Speaking to Autosport, Russell is ‘confident 2024 will be very different’ however, saying: ‘I know the sort of driver who I am.
‘I know one year like this [2023] is not going to take away from all of my other consistent seasons, championship-winning seasons. I want to be ahead. And that’s what I’m pushing myself for.
Lewis Hamilton’s replacement at Mercedes odds:
Carlos Sainz – 6/4
Alex Albon – 2/1
Fernando Alonso – 5/1
Daniel Ricciardo – 8/1
Esteban Ocon – 16/1
Andrea Kimi Antonelli – 25/1
Sergio Perez – 33/1
Mick Schumacher – 50/1
Frederik Vesti – 100/1
Sebastian Vettel – 100/1
Odds courtesy of BonusCodeBets
‘And probably when I sit through my championship years [in GP3 and Formula 2], I probably wasn’t being pushed as much as I’m pushing myself now.
‘I’m purposely trying to push myself further and beyond, and I’m not satisfied with just being on par with my team-mate in qualifying or whatever it may be – [like in 2022 when] we were very even across the whole season.’
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Mercedes boss Toto Wolff is also confident Russell has what it takes to lead the team after Hamilton’s departure, saying: ‘George has the potential to be the next lead driver in the team. I couldn’t wish for a new team leader when Lewis leaves. No doubt about that.
‘We’ve such a solid foundation, such a quick and talented and intelligent guy in a car that we just need to take the right choice for the second driver, the second seat.’
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They’ll be plenty of drivers gunning to join the Silver Arrows, with Carlos Sainz, the man Hamilton is replacing at Ferrari, and Williams’ Alex Albon the favourites for the seat.
The 2024 F1 season gets underway in 2nd March with the Bahrain Grand Prix.
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