© Steve Etherington for Mercedes-Benz Grand Prix Ltd.
George Russell says Mercedes made it “very clear” that he will be on “level terms” with Lewis Hamilton when he joins the team in 2022.
Lewis Hamilton has been with Mercedes since 2013, and together they have had unprecedented success. With George Russell joining the team in 2022, journalists are understandably speculating whether the young Briton will be relegated to a secondary role.
Ahead of the Italian Grand Prix Russell reveals he was assured by Mercedes that this will not be the case.
“[I’m] definitely going in on level terms and that was made very clear to me,” Russell said.
“I think Mercedes are always respectful in that regard, to give both drivers the best opportunity. Naturally I believe in myself, and I have high aspirations.
“But equally I know just how tough it is going to be. Lewis is a seven-time world champion for a reason, and I think I’m in probably one of the most fortunate positions on the grid to be able to go out there and learn from him.
“For myself, I see this partnership with Mercedes as a long-term thing, and I guess I need to use next year as a real opportunity to learn, and take it race by race, and just see how I get on. But I’ve got no initial thoughts really.”
Asked whether things could get heated between him and Hamilton, like they were between Hamilton and his former team-mate Nico Rosberg, Russell said he believes it won’t happen.
“I think Mercedes have had clear experience of a poor dynamic within the team, and they’ve made it absolutely clear that they don’t want a repeat.
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“On a personal level as well, I don’t want that either. I think it’s so important as teammates to work together, to push the team.
“Next year it’s a new car and new regulations. There’s no guarantees who is going to have the fastest car. I guess it’s our job as drivers to push that forward.
“I’d say as well, Lewis and I are at very different stages of our career, which I think also helps, and I have a huge amount of respect for him.
“I think being so much younger and looking up to him as a young karting driver changes that dynamic a lot too. I don’t see there being any issues at all.”
However, Russell admitted in an interview with ESPN that this doesn’t mean he will not go after the world title. The young Briton was asked if he believes he could win the title in his first year with the team.
“I have no idea, to be honest. I will be working with a completely new set of engineers, new set of regulations, new car, new teammate.
“There are a lot of new things that I am going to have to adapt to and get used to. But right here, right now, we can’t say this is the goal.
“Obviously, the target for everyone is to win and that will always be the target, but equally there has got to be a realistic aim.
“Certainly, over the course of the next three to five years, that is absolutely the goal,” concluded Russell.
