Mercedes driver George Russell assures that his teammate and seven-time champion’s thoughts are on second place after Mercedes fell into trouble again, noting that the German team is giving them the same cars.
The seven-time world champion caused the disbelief of the motorsport world after he ended his cooperation with Mercedes, because it was believed that the Briton would end his career with this team.
After last year he signed a contract extension with the team in which he won seven titles, and with which he achieved incredible records, everything was subordinated to further cooperation. However, the Briton had a clause in his contract that allowed him to decide what to do next after one season.
It was this option that led him to sign for the Italian team. In his first address, the 39-year-old stated that it was his childhood dream to drive for the Italian team.
In addition, the game included the continuation of his winning career, which was interrupted in 2021 by Max Verstappen where the Dutch driver took the Briton’s eighth title in the last race.
After that, Hamilton did not win two seasons in a row. Mercedes entered the new era with big problems on their cars. The Briton warned the team that the design does not fit at all.
Although they ditched the famous ‘zero sidebars’ concept last year, the move to the new design brought new problems. Hamilton is off to the worst start of his career. The constant problems, and the mention that his teammate is more suited to the car, led to various statements.
The seven-time champion is accused of not being interested in anything related to the new W15 car because he does not have the necessary things to allow him to return to the fight for titles.
However, Hamilton’s teammate assures that he is fully committed to the Silver Arrows, and that both have the same car, and that his thoughts are not elsewhere.
“After Lewis’ announcement [of leaving Mercedes], I think he has been incredibly professional with the team and the working relationship with everyone at Mercedes gives the impression that nothing has changed,” said Russell, as quoted by France’s NEXTGEN-AUTO.
“I read what David (Coulthard) said, that he already had his head elsewhere, but that’s not the case,” he assures.
“[The team] gives us both equal opportunities. It’s always been that way from the beginning. And every time there is work to improve the car, it concerns both of us at the same time, while other teams often build one car before the other.”
“Lewis wants to succeed in his final year with us.”
The younger Brit confirmed that will remain the case beyond this season when he faces his new team-mate at Mercedes in 2025.
“It will always be like this at Mercedes, I will not become a leader. They want to give both drivers the best chance to achieve the best results, and next year it doesn’t matter who my teammate is, it will still be the same.”
