George Russell reflects on his journey with Mercedes, believing early success could have made him a two-time world champion today.
Russell partnered with Lewis Hamilton at Mercedes in 2022, but the team’s performance dropped sharply with the introduction of ground effect regulations. Since then, Mercedes has managed only one Grand Prix victory, delivered by Russell himself in São Paulo.
That season, Russell outscored Hamilton, becoming only the third teammate ever to do so. He finished fourth in the standings with 275 points, while Hamilton placed sixth with 240 points.
In 2023, Hamilton bounced back to finish third, while Russell ended eighth. However, in 2024, Russell once again outperformed the seven-time world champion, securing 245 points against Hamilton’s 233.
This achievement makes Russell the only teammate to have beaten Hamilton twice over a season, something even Jenson Button and Nico Rosberg only managed once.
Looking back, Russell believes that in a different era, his performances could have been enough to claim world titles.
“Everyone has lived in Lewis’s shadow. Being teammates with a seven-time world champion for three years is no small challenge,” Russell said.
“There was a time when if you finished ahead of Lewis in a race, you usually won the race. And if you finished ahead of him in the championship, you won the title.”
“If I had done what I did now five years earlier, I would probably be a two-time world champion.”
Despite this, Russell insists he feels no disappointment, knowing how much a driver’s success in F1 depends on the car and the team behind him.
“I just focus on doing my job, like I have over the past two years. I’ve been working with the same group of engineers and mechanics. Now that Mercedes has given us a stronger car, it’s showing immediately in the results. Even Kimi, who is just starting out, is benefiting from it.”
“Of course, Lewis was such a huge presence that his absence this year feels different. But in my day-to-day, nothing has changed. I still sit at my desk, go through the data, do my warm-ups, jump into the car, put my helmet on and race.”
“My goal is to be in control of my own destiny.”
- Discover More>Horner: Verstappen’s 2021 Triumph Defined Red Bull’s Era
- Follow us on >FACEBOOK and >TWITTERfor F1 update
Russell: I Could Have Been Double F1 Champion Already
Russell: I Could Have Been Double F1 Champion Already
- Williams F1 Still Struggles with Outdated Infrastructure
- Oscar Piastri Reveals the Secret Behind His 2025 Breakout
- Tost Warned Schumacher Comeback Was a Risky Mistake
- Norris “Caught Out” Twice by Hamilton in Jeddah Duel
- Albon Blames Past Struggles on Car, Not His Driving