Russell makes No 1 Mercedes driver point amid Hamilton battle

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George Russell has claimed there is no “top spot” at Mercedes as he and partner Lewis Hamilton prepare for the new season. Amid what proved a turbulent 2022 season for the Silver Arrows, Russell outperformed his more esteemed partner, achieving eight podium finishes on his way to a fourth placed finish in the drivers’ standings.

The former Williams man also notched his maiden Grand Prix win in the penultimate race of the year in Brazil, leading Hamilton home in a Mercedes one-two. That was one more victory than Hamilton managed, with the seven time world champion failing to take the chequered flag in a season for the first time in his 16-year F1 career.

Hamilton eventually sixth in the standings, but Russell last week admitted that few will remember that stat, and more will be demanded of both drivers in 2023. And Toto Wolff’s team are expected to mount a far more serious challenge, having seemingly ironed out the issues of porpoising that plagued their early season form.

Pundits and fans have speculated as to whether the relationship between the English pair will ultimately turn sour, given Hamilton’s past with teammates like Fernando Alonso and Nico Rosberg. Last year was the first time the 38-year-old icon didn’t finish above a racing partner since Rosberg beat him to the title in 2015.

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But Russell, who said Wolff “was very clear from the beginning what he expected from one another,” insisted there are no issues between him and Hamilton. “I think Lewis and I have a good relationship,” he told Auto, Motor und Sport. The 24-year-old also admitted there was no set hierarchy within the Silver Arrows.

“When you maybe look in the past there has been a slightly closer age gap between the two,” he added. “And there’s been people fighting for that top spot within the team. With Lewis and I, there is no top spot. We are both on an equal playing field.”

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Despite the increased expectations, Team Principal Wolff has also sounded a note of caution as the team gears towards the opening race weekend in Bahrain from December 3-5. He says the team have to be “realistic” about being able to breach the current gap to Red Bull, with Max Verstappen dominating the championship last season.

The Dutchman finished a huge 146 points clear on top of the standings, and he and Sergio Perez comfortably claimed the Constructors’ title for their team. Verstappen himself though has named both Hamilton and Russell as potential challengers to his crown this time around.

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