George Russell Opens Up About Competing with Lewis Hamilton at His peak

Russell Reflects on Stepping Into Mercedes Amid Hamilton’s Dominance

When George Russell joined Mercedes in 2022, he wasn’t just stepping into a race seat  he was stepping into a pressure cooker. Lewis Hamilton, fresh off the controversial 2021 Abu Dhabi title decider, remained one of the most feared and respected figures in Formula 1. The world watched to see how the young Brit would perform alongside a seven-time world champion at the height of his legacy.

George Russell Opens Up About Competing with Lewis Hamilton at His peak

Now, in a revealing new interview, Russell has spoken candidly about what it meant to challenge Hamilton during his peak drawing insightful parallels to Max Verstappen’s current reign.

“Lewis Was the Hottest Stock in the Field” Russell on 2021 Transition

“At the end of 2021, Lewis was the hottest stock in the field,” Russell said. “No one would have thought that someone at Mercedes could beat him as a teammate. I came in and performed from the first race. I always believed in myself.”

Russell's self-belief translated into immediate results. In the 2022 F1 season, his first full year with Mercedes, he outscored Hamilton, becoming the first teammate to do so since Nico Rosberg in 2016 the year Rosberg famously won the world title before retiring.

While Russell stopped short of claiming superiority, his tone reflected confidence and quiet conviction in his capabilities.

https://x.com/GazzettaFerrari/status/1932097622283612186?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1932097622283612186%7Ctwgr%5Ee21ee2089a096becedac37acb0100ef78e8a5620%7Ctwcon%5Es1_c10&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fathlonsports.com%2Fracing%2Ff1%2Fgeorge-russell-facing-lewis-hamilton

Drawing Parallels Between Hamilton and Verstappen

Russell didn’t just look back he used his experience to analyze the sport’s current landscape. “The reputation [Lewis] had is the same one Max has now,” he explained. “No one believes that Max is beatable. And the same was thought about Lewis back then.”

The Mercedes driver’s comparison highlights an important truth in Formula 1’s cyclical nature: dominance may seem unshakable in the moment, but every era has its disruptor. For years, Hamilton seemed untouchable. Today, that role belongs to Red Bull’s Max Verstappen, who is in the midst of one of the most commanding stretches in modern F1 history.

Praise for Hamilton’s Legendary Rookie Year

Russell also acknowledged the magnitude of Hamilton’s talent from the very beginning, singling out his rookie season in 2007 as a defining moment.

“That says a lot,” Russell said, referring to Hamilton’s historic rookie campaign where he stood on the podium in each of his first nine races — all while battling two-time world champion Fernando Alonso at McLaren.

The remark reinforces Russell’s deep respect for Hamilton’s career, while also serving as a reminder that even the sport’s icons began as underdogs willing to go toe-to-toe with the best.

What Comes Next for Russell and F1?

As Max Verstappen continues to dominate the grid, Russell’s insights raise a compelling question: who will be the next driver to disrupt the current power structure? With Mercedes in the midst of a rebuild and Russell steadily growing into a team leader role, he could very well position himself as a future title contender.

His reflections show that he understands not only the competitive demands of Formula 1, but also the mental and historical context of challenging the greats.

Challengers Make Champions

George Russell’s candid comments shed light on the pressure, prestige, and potential that come with racing alongside legends. By drawing parallels between Hamilton’s prime and Verstappen’s present, he reminds fans that every dominant chapter has an ending — and perhaps, a Russell-led resurgence could be the next to write it.