George Russell replaced Valtteri Bottas as Lewis Hamilton’s Mercedes team-mate in 2022, but according to F1 insider Peter Windsor, Hamilton was far from impressed.
Lewis Hamilton allegedly had reservations about having George Russell as his new teammate at Mercedes when he initially joined the team in 2022.
Russell took over Valtteri Bottas’ position, who had been praised as Hamilton’s ‘best team-mate’. Bottas moved to Alfa Romeo, sparking excitement among British F1 fans for the Lewis and Russell partnership.
Nevertheless, Hamilton was reportedly not thrilled with the change in line-up, according to F1 expert Peter Windsor. The two British drivers competed against each other, with Russell initially gaining an advantage before Hamilton turned the tables in 2023.
Despite frequently finding himself trailing behind Russell this season, Hamilton managed to secure an exhilarating win at Silverstone, marking his first victory since 2021 and bringing him within a single point of his rival in the standings.
Lewis’s impressive triumph at Silverstone, following a tumultuous period that saw Russell joining Mercedes, prompted former F1 team head honcho Windsor to share his thoughts on his YouTube channel. He remarked, “I believe this race will be etched in memory, considering it has been two and a half years since Abu Dhabi 2021.”
Following the events of that fateful day when Lewis lost his chance at an eighth world championship due to a mistake by the race director on the final lap, the focus has been on the subsequent events in Lewis’s life.
The Mirror reports that George Russell, a team-mate he wasn’t keen on, replaced Valtteri Bottas, and to make matters worse, Mercedes was performing poorly.
Hamilton made a triumphant return at Silverstone, securing his first F1 victory in more than two years by fending off Max Verstappen’s challenge and ending a 945-day drought without a top-spot finish.
While Russell started the race in pole position and Norris briefly led, it was Hamilton who remained resilient under intense pressure to claim the victory.
In the midst of all the talk about Hamilton’s move to Ferrari and Russell’s rising fame, whispers of tension between the Mercedes teammates started circulating following Hamilton’s odd remark hinting that he wouldn’t outperform Russell in qualifying for the remainder of the season.
However, Russell dismissed any claims of favoritism within the team.
Following his win, Hamilton expressed his emotions by stating: “Starting from 2021, I have been dedicating myself every day to training diligently and pushing myself to the limit alongside this exceptional team. This marks my final race at the British Grand Prix with this team.”
“My motivation to win was fueled by my deep love and appreciation for them. I am immensely thankful for the relentless effort they have invested throughout these years. I will always be grateful to the entire Mercedes team and our partners.”
To all our amazing supporters, I was able to see you with each passing lap. It’s an amazing feeling to cross the finish line in first place.
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