Lewis Hamilton and Mercedes fired up to bounce back as George Russell warns Red Bull
Russell excited to get started with Mercedes
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George Russell has warned Red Bull that Mercedes are motivated to win back Max Verstappen’s Formula One Drivers’ World Championship. Verstappen pipped Lewis Hamilton to the title in a controversial Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.
Mercedes were furious following the 2021 season finale and Hamilton threatened to quit F1 if there was not serious change at the top of the FIA.
The Brit had led for most of the winner-takes-all event but a safety car was deployed late on.
Race director Michael Masi took the decision to restart the final lap – much to Mercedes’ fury.
On softer tyres, Verstappen was able to overtake Hamilton and win his first ever world title.
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Mercedes had two protests thrown out before a court appeal was withdrawn, with Hamilton apparently unwilling to win a World Championship in court.
And now, Mercedes new boy Russell – who will partner Hamilton in 2022 – has sent a blistering warning to Red Bull that Verstappen’s title is on the line.
Russell made the move from Williams Racing in the off-season but is a former Mercedes reserve driver.
“Because I spent so much time with the team prior to joining Williams in Formula 1 as a junior driver, I feel like I know everybody so well already,” Russell said.
“So we were just straight to business on the important bits and bobs, to understand the new car, to understand the challenges, and to try and prepare as best as possible for the season ahead.
“And I think following the conclusion of last year, there’s so much motivation and fire within the whole factory to bounce back. And that is incredible for me to see.”
Senior figures in F1 are disappointed that no change is yet to take place within the FIA following a two-month inquiry into the ending to the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, the BBC report.
Hamilton’s participation in the 2022 season has been confirmed but there had been vast speculation that he would quit the sport due to his disillusionment.
When the FIA announced its inquiry into the Abu Dhabi event last December, it said it would present its findings to the F1 Commission in February.
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And a statement from the FIA said that its president Mohammed Ben Sulayem had “led detailed discussions” on the Abu Dhabi race at Monday’s meeting.
But at that meeting, F1 bosses were told by Sulayem and Peter Bayer, the FIA executive director of single-seaters, that the inquiry was not yet concluded.
“The FIA President led detailed discussions of the 2021 FIA Formula 1 Abu Dhabi GP,” a statement said.
“Feedback from the Commission on matters raised will be incorporated into the president’s analysis and he will publicly present news of structural changes and action plan in the coming days.”
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