A fast research: Russell tailored instantly to the Mercedes automotive, ending forward of illustrious teammate Lewis Hamilton in the drivers’ standings. Photo credit score: Getty Images
Comrades and rivals: The dynamic between the Mercedes drivers has the potential to change into considered one of the storylines of the season. Photo credit score: Getty Images
If the 2021 Formula One season pitted the outdated era in opposition to the new — Lewis Hamilton vs. Max Verstappen — final 12 months witnessed the rise of the younger crop, with Charles Leclerc turning into one-time karting rival Verstappen’s closest challenger.
So what’s in retailer for 2023?
Mercedes dropped the ball with the new laws final 12 months, taking Hamilton out of the equation, but when it will get its act collectively, the prospects are scrumptious. The storyline of Hamilton going for a document eighth title has apparent enchantment, however there may be a wild card in play.
For, whereas reigning double world champion Verstappen and Leclerc are the de facto workforce leaders at Red Bull and Ferrari respectively, issues usually are not fairly as simple at Mercedes.
Hamilton may command the workforce’s respect due to his stellar document, however gained’t have it straightforward in opposition to George Russell’s prodigious expertise. The younger British driver has excelled at each stage main as much as F1 — he is a former BRDC F4, GP3 and F2 champion. What’s extra, he outscored his illustrious teammate final 12 months.
While the standings don’t at all times inform the complete story, they present that, not like Carlos Sainz at Ferrari or Sergio Perez at Red Bull, Russell is ideally positioned to duel Hamilton as an equal.
Former F1 driver and TV pundit Karun Chandhok lauded the 25-year-old’s first season at Mercedes, highlighting his means to extract the greatest from a automotive. “George was outstanding and probably the second-best driver behind Max,” Chandhok mentioned. “He delivered strongly, especially when the car was not strong early in the year.”
Wringing a automotive’s neck
This ability in wringing a automotive’s neck to squeeze out its full potential isn’t new to Russell. Even throughout his time at Williams (2019-21), when he was concerned in the back-of-the-grid shuffle, he usually took his automotive locations it didn’t belong, particularly in qualifying.
While it was no shock that he outshone teammates Robert Kubica and Nicholas Latifi, the margin of outperformance was spectacular — even accounting for Kubica not being the identical after his rally accident and Latifi owing his place extra to his dad’s chequebook than tempo.
A real testomony to a driver’s skills is one-lap tempo. Russell’s superiority over his teammates in the slowest equipment on the grid showcased his adaptability.
Breaking down Russell’s driving fashion, Chandhok mentioned, “He has a very minimalist approach, a bit like Mika [Hakkinen] or Kimi [Raikkonen]. He makes a single decisive input to the car and is clear and confident about what he wants the car to do. He turns the steering wheel and uses the pedal in a minimalist fashion. There are no micro corrections that you see from some other drivers.”
Russell joined the Mercedes household in 2017 as a part of its younger driver programme and left no stone unturned to realize his ambition. There is a well-known story about how he turned up at the Mercedes HQ in a go well with and tie to satisfy Toto Wolff and make a case, with a PowerPoint presentation, for the German marque to signal him.
“He has a strong work ethic and works well with engineers,” mentioned Chandhok, who has tracked Russell from his junior days. “I heard he was at the factory a lot last year and always wanted to be in the simulator. He demands that everyone around him perform at a very high level because he performs at a very high level.”
Although he produced magical performances with Williams in his first two years with out scoring a degree, Mercedes opted to play it secure in 2021 and follow the underperforming Valtteri Bottas.
A powerful audition
However, simply earlier than the 2020 season ended, Mercedes had an opportunity to guage Russell when he subbed for Hamilton, who was identified with Covid at the Sakhir Grand Prix (Bahrain). He instantly confirmed why he belonged in that seat.
He certified second, lower than a tenth of a second behind Bottas. In the race, he took the lead at the first nook and was on target for victory till a blunder by the workforce throughout a pit cease and a sluggish puncture meant he completed solely ninth.
When he finally bought the drive final 12 months, Russell handled the misbehaving Mercedes higher than Hamilton in the first a part of the 12 months. Even although the seven-time champion bought on prime in the second half and was barely sooner general, the hole was negligible.
“As the car improved, Lewis came back at him,” Chandhok mentioned. “At one point, he was out-qualified nine times in a row by Lewis. But the most impressive part was, while it would have hurt the confidence of most drivers, he bounced back in the last three races and got that win in Brazil.”
Despite Hamilton looming in his mirrors at Brazil, Russell soaked up the stress to present Mercedes its solely win of the season. While he completed fourth in the standings, 35 factors forward of Hamilton, there are nonetheless areas he’ll really feel he can handle.
Room for enchancment
A case in level was his efficiency in Singapore, the place frustration bought the higher of him. He crashed in follow after which had a useless tangle with Mick Schumacher in the race, dropping out of the factors.
Surprisingly, qualifying is one other space he might really feel he can enhance. While the tempo deficit was marginal, Hamilton had a 13-9 edge in qualifying.
If Mercedes is in the title image, these slim margins, particularly in qualifying, might make an enormous distinction, notably in areas like technique choice.
Last 12 months, Mercedes, the third-fastest automotive, was in no man’s land with no risk from behind. But the beginning place may be essential when battling a number of groups.
The greatest take a look at of Russell’s calibre will come when he confronts Hamilton in a title battle. He has proven he is not afraid in wheel-to-wheel fight, however can he keep the identical with a title on the line? It will even be a take a look at of the workforce’s administration in dealing with each drivers.
“The dynamic and battle between the two Merc drivers will be one of the season’s biggest stories. George arrived with a bang into the team and outscored Lewis, which few drivers can say they have done,” mentioned Chandhok.
Unlike Sainz at Ferrari or Perez at Red Bull, Russell has not been employed as a secure No. 2 or an understudy who can take over when Hamilton strikes on. Given F1’s fickle nature, there is no assure of success — so, with Russell coming into his prime as a driver, having put in the exhausting yards, he is unlikely to yield.
Quite a bit will depend upon the pecking order of the groups. But if Red Bull, Ferrari, and Mercedes are on stage footing, we’d have greater than a three-way battle for the driver’s title. F1 will solely profit from that.
