George Russell set 2022 challenge ahead of Lewis Hamilton link-up at Mercedes

George Russell joins Lewis Hamilton at Mercedes

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Former Formula 1 star Mark Webber has challenged George Russell to qualify on the front row and finish on the podium in every race of the 2022 season. Russell is set to swap Williams for Mercedes at the end of the 2021 campaign, with Valtteri Bottas set to go to Alfa Romeo.

Bottas will replace compatriot and 2007 world champion Kimi Raikkonen at the Swiss-based outfit.

Russell has impressed in 2021, picking up 16 points across the season while also securing a maiden podium when the Belgian Grand Prix was aborted due to wet weather.

Some fans will claim Russell’s P2 finish at Spa was lucky due to the circumstances, but the Brit did put his Williams on the front row – behind Max Verstappen and ahead of Lewis Hamilton’s Mercedes.

Former Red Bull star Webber experienced battling Hamilton on the track in his career and he believes Russell will be able do the same.

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The Australian knows the 23-year-old will be expected to achieve success quickly.

“Fighting Lewis will be difficult,” Webber told Formel Austria. 

“But George has over 50 grand prix starts so he’s ready for that.

“But 99 percent of all drivers need time to get used to being at the front. George is ready but we can’t compare it with how he performed in qualifying in a slow car with relatively little pressure.

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“George will understand the responsibilities he has at Mercedes are much higher. 

“He will be expected to be qualifying on the front row and finishing in the top three every time.”

Webber battled with Sebastian Vettel for the world championship, but missed out as the German led Red Bull to four consecutive drivers’ titles between 2010 and 2013. 

The 45-year-old is tentative about the chances of Verstappen claiming a maiden world title in 2021 as it appears Hamilton has found his best form.

“Max is slightly ahead but he lost a lot of points elsewhere – Baku for example,” Webber added.

“Apparently Mercedes have found some sort of trick with the engine and Lewis is hungry for victories again and at his best, which we saw in Brazil.

“But it’s not over yet.”

Hamilton is now just eight points behind Verstappen in the championship standings ahead of the final two races which are believed to both favour the straight-line speed of Mercedes.

In the Constructors’ Championship, Mercedes still have an advantage by 11 points, despite Bottas’ retirement in Qatar.

The two championships will therefore be decided in the final two races, with the inaugural Saudi Arabian Grand Prix at the Jeddah Corniche Circuit on December 5 followed by the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix at the Yas Marina Circuit on December 12. 

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