George Russell emerged as Mercedes’ leader in 2024, proving his talent with strong performances and a pivotal role for the team.
George Russell’s 2024 season was shaped by the inconsistent performance of the tricky-to-understand W15, but that did not stop the British driver from stepping into a new role within the Mercedes F1 team, where he is set to become the leader next year.
The season started well for Russell, who qualified in the top three in Bahrain and finished fifth. However, the first part of the season was far from smooth, as he suffered a crash in Melbourne and struggled with Mercedes’ lack of pace against Red Bull and Ferrari, followed by McLaren after a few races.
It wasn’t until the European leg that Mercedes began closing in on podium finishes, with Russell securing a top-five result in Monaco. It was in Canada where the Briton truly ignited his season with a pole position and a third-place finish.
In Austria, Russell was on course for a podium when Max Verstappen collided with Lando Norris, allowing him to take control of the race and claim his second career victory, his first since the end of 2022.
The summer proved more challenging for Russell, with a retirement at Silverstone and a disqualification after crossing the line as the winner at Spa-Francorchamps. Fortunately, a podium in Baku and seven top-five finishes in the final eight races allowed him to end the season on a high note.
Extremely strong in the season’s closing stages, Russell even secured victory in Las Vegas, marking his second win of the year and further solidifying his role as the team’s leader. With Lewis Hamilton already focused on his move to Ferrari, the young driver, competing in his sixth Formula 1 season, truly stepped up.
Next year, he will face Andrea Kimi Antonelli, a rookie who will inevitably be in his shadow. For the first time since joining Mercedes, Russell will have to assume the role of team leader, even though he has already demonstrated it on track this year through his results.
There is no doubt that after learning this at Williams, where he spent three years carrying the team on his shoulders and attempting to rebuild it, Russell is well-equipped to become the number one driver in a Mercedes team aiming to return to the top.
Statistics
- 6th in the championship with 245 points
- 2 wins
- 4 pole positions
- 4 podiums
- 2 fastest laps
- 0 Hat Tricks
- 0 Grand Chelem
- 138 laps led
- 1423 laps completed (97.85%)
- Average qualifying position: 5.17
- Average race position: 5.05
Comparison with Lewis Hamilton
- Races: 15/9 in favor of George Russell
- Qualifying: 19/5 in favor of George Russell
- Discover More>Logan Sargeant: The Full Story of His 2024 F1 Season
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F1 2024 Season Review – George Russell F1 2024 Season Review – George Russell
