“We Always Knew…”: On George Russell Replacing Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes Director’s Huge Statement

George Russell “intensified” for Mercedes and has become a leadership role since Lewis Hamilton left for Ferrari, the team’s engineering director said on Friday. Russell is now the senior driver of the German team after the departure of the seventh world champion Hamilton at the end of last season and was replaced by the 18 -year -old recruit Kimi Antonelli. Russell responded with two third places to start the season and Andrew Shovlin said that the 27 -year -old Briton adopted his role as an Antonelli mentor. “George tries to give him the benefit of his experience,” said Shovlin at the Japanese Grand Prix in Suzuka.

“George has entered this role being the most experienced driver of the team now.

“We have always known that it was fast. In his own approach, he brought confidence and calm this year that works very well for us.”

Antonelli took a good start to his career in F1, finishing fourth in Australia and sixth in China.

“It’s really nice to see how the two work together and how George has intensified in this role,” said Shovlin.

Russell is without a contract at the end of the season and the quadruple Red Bull world champion, Max Verstappen, was linked to a transition to Mercedes.

Russell said he had “no stress” about talking to the director of the Toto Wolff team about a new agreement.

“Regarding the discussions under contract, with us in the past with Toto, he did not take more than 24 hours to have the conversation, then it goes to lawyers and we put in place something,” he said.

“There is no precipitation on my side, there is no concern, no pressure.”

Wolff welcomed Russell’s performance this season, giving his pilot “10 out of 10” for his podium in China.

Russell said he didn’t need a public confidence vote to feel valued by his team.

“The most important thing is what is happening internally rather than what is shown in the world and I know that I have the support of everyone,” he said.

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