Formula 1: George Russell Shares Insights on Mercedes Without Hamilton

Sakhir (Bahrain), Feb 27 (NationPress) As Team Mercedes prepares for the 2025 Formula 1 season, George Russell shared his thoughts on life with the Silver Arrows in the absence of his former teammate Lewis Hamilton, whose sensational transfer to Ferrari has initiated a new chapter for the squad. Speaking during the second day of pre-season testing in Bahrain, Russell recognized the notable shift in team dynamics while highlighting the positive attitude the team is adopting through this transition.

“Naturally, it does feel different, of course,” Russell acknowledged at a drivers' press conference in Sakhir. “Lewis is such a significant personality both on and off the track. However, everyone within the team is genuinely enthusiastic about this next chapter, really.”

Hamilton's exit concluded a remarkable collaboration between the two British drivers that lasted three seasons from 2022 to 2024. Although Russell valued the experience of learning from and competing alongside the seven-time World Champion, he remains committed to the future.

“As the team reminisces about cherished memories, I also feel thankful for having the opportunity to be his teammate for three years and gaining so much knowledge from him. Going head-to-head with him was incredible. It feels like the conclusion of a chapter, but we are looking forward to the next adventure,” he noted. “It’s very much about us and Mercedes… we’re focused on what lies ahead, not what’s behind.”

With Hamilton's seat now filled by the emerging talent Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes has entered a new phase in its quest for championship success. Russell expressed confidence in both his new teammate and the team's latest contender, the W16, following a promising start to pre-season testing. Antonelli led the morning session in Bahrain, while Russell himself registered the second-fastest lap in the afternoon.

“Yeah, absolutely. It’s undoubtedly a fresh start for all of us. We’re just eager to see what the season has in store,” Russell commented when asked about Mercedes's outlook. “This morning marked a solid beginning for the team; the car is responding well. The conditions here are quite different from what we’re used to – it’s notably windy.”

Despite the encouraging signs, Russell urged caution against making definitive conclusions from the early test sessions, citing the unpredictable performance fluctuations seen last season.

“We’re also aware that last season, for instance, there were significant performance swings across all teams… if you leave this test as the quickest, fourth-quickest, third-quickest, whatever, you may not be able to draw too many conclusions from it. Nevertheless, the car appears to be performing admirably.”