© Jiri Krenek for Mercedes-Benz Grand Prix Ltd.
Two-time F1 champion Mika Häkkinen says in 2023 “Lewis wanted to show everyone that he still has it, while on the other hand George was and continues to be under immense pressure”.
George Russell entered Mercedes with a bang in 2022, and managed to finish the season ahead of his more experienced team-mate Lewis Hamilton.
It has to be noted that in 2022 Mercedes also started struggling with the performance of its car, so the team looked to Lewis to conduct ‘experiments’ in the first part of the season, in order to help improve it. However, it cannot be denied that George did an amazing job.
In 2023, things turned out a bit differently, and George ultimately finished the season 59 points behind his team-mate.
Two-time F1 champion Mika Häkkinen says he was not surprised by this.
“It is clear that it is still Lewis’ team, even though George is entering his third season with Mercedes,” the Finn told BILD.
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As for George beating Lewis in 2022, Mika said:
“That’s correct, but last season Hamilton finished third and Russell only eighth. That didn’t surprise me.
“On the one hand, Lewis wanted to show everyone that he still has it, while on the other hand George was and continues to be under immense pressure.
“When you’re the team-mate of a seven-time world champion, all eyes are automatically on you. It doesn’t matter if you finished on the podium if your team-mate won.
“It’s the same with all teams, but different for George as he is racing against a record champion,” he concluded.
