Hamilton backs Russell to be future F1 champion
Hamilton backs Russell to be future F1 champion
Lewis Hamilton believes Mercedes protégé George Russell has the potential to follow in his footsteps and become a Formula 1 world champion.
Hamilton further cemented his status in F1 history by securing a seventh championship with his outstanding drive to victory in the Turkish Grand Prix.
At the opposite end of the spectrum, Russell has moved up to third on the list of drivers for most races without a point, which now stands at 35. Only Charles Pic [39] and Luca Badoer [50] are ahead of him.
Yet Mercedes-backed Russell, who is poised for a third season with Williams next year, is widely regarded as one of the most talented drivers on the grid.
The 22-year-old, however, has the full support of fellow Briton Hamilton who said: "I think what he's been able to do - similar to if you look at [Fernando] Alonso [with Minardi], coming into one of the teams further back - is an opportunity to grow, improve, lead a team, and make mistakes, all those different things.
"I think this year he's just been great how he's handled everything, and what he's done with that car, to put it into Q2 quite often, and really delivering great results, so I'm really impressed with his racecraft and how he's growing. "He really is the future - as several drivers are the future of this sport - but he's one of them I'm really excited to see his progression, and I've no doubt he has the potential to be a future champion."
Hamilton was one of the many drivers who messaged Russell in the wake of his recent accident behind the safety car during the Emilia Romagna GP at Imola.
After climbing from the cockpit of his car, Russell was then witnessed sat leaning against a fence, thumping the ground with his fist in frustration.
After the race, Hamilton reached out to Russell on social media to help the 22-year-old through what was undoubtedly one of the worst moments in his career.
"Having seen how many people reposted that, I should probably have messaged him directly," joked Hamilton. "But it's positive I guess.
"I think it was important I looked at those in the early phases of their Formula 1 career - many of us have been there, and I know what it's like to have experiences like that.
"I just wanted to show him that's it's okay, don't beat yourself up too much. He's going to do it his own way anyway because that's how we are wired as racing drivers, and I just wanted to show some support."
Before you go...
Hamilton wow factor continues to "surprise" Mercedes - Bonnington
Istanbul thriller "not the answer" for Formula 1 - Ricciardo
Related
Change your timezone:
Latest News
Horner accuser 'angry and upset' over Red Bull SNUB as Perez bemoans lack of clarity - GPFans F1 Recap
- Yesterday 23:57
F1 fans provide SHOCK reaction to Verstappen Australian GP comments
- Yesterday 22:57
Ricciardo makes SHOCK F1 admission - ‘I wanted it to be over’
- Yesterday 21:57
Verstappen 'doesn't like' AWKWARD Red Bull Horner questions
- Yesterday 20:57
F1 champion issues DOUBT over Hamilton Ferrari move
- Yesterday 19:58
F1 News Today: Mercedes make HUGE Hamilton admission as FIA announce update on Horner scandal
- Yesterday 19:41
F1 Race Calendar
-
GP BAHRAIN
29 Feb - 2 Mar
Max Verstappen
-
GP SAUDI ARABIA
7 - 9 Mar
Max Verstappen
- GP AUSTRALIA 22 - 24 Mar
- GP JAPAN 5 - 7 Apr
- GP CHINA 19 - 21 Apr
- GP USA 3 - 6 May
- GP ITALY 17 - 19 May
Related news
F1 champion issues DOUBT over Hamilton Ferrari move
F1 winner identifies key Hamilton ADVANTAGE at Ferrari
Mercedes admit making HUGE Hamilton mistake
Hamilton hits out at 'SHOCKING' Mercedes performance
F1 Standings
Drivers
- Oliver Bearman
- Charles Leclerc
- Carlos Sainz
- Lando Norris
- Oscar Piastri
- Pierre Gasly
- Esteban Ocon
- Sergio Pérez
- Max Verstappen
- Alexander Albon
- Logan Sargeant
- Lewis Hamilton
- George Russell
- Nico Hülkenberg
- Kevin Magnussen
- Fernando Alonso
- Lance Stroll
- Valtteri Bottas
- Zhou Guanyu
- Daniel Ricciardo
- Yuki Tsunoda
Races
- Gulf Air Grand Prix of Bahrain 2024
- Saudi Arabian Grand Prix 2024
- Grand Prix of Australia 2024
- MSC Cruises Grand Prix of Japan 2024
- Grand Prix of China 2024
- Miami Grand Prix 2024
- Gran Premio dell'Emilia Romagna 2024
- Grand Prix of Monaco 2024
- Grand Prix du Canada 2024
- Gran Premio de España 2024
- Grand Prix of Austria 2024
- Grand Prix of Great Britain 2024
- Grand Prix of Hungary 2024
- Grand Prix of Belgium 2024
- Heineken Dutch Grand Prix 2024
- Grand Prix of Italy 2024
- Grand Prix of Azerbaijan 2024
- Grand Prix of Singapore 2024
- Grand Prix of the United States 2024
- Gran Premio de la Ciudad de Mexico 2024
- Grande Prêmio de São Paulo 2024
- Heineken Silver Las Vegas Grand Prix 2024
- Qatar Grand Prix 2024
- Grand Prix of Abu Dhabi 2024
About GPFans
GPFans is a multi-platform, multi-language brand dedicated to Formula One coverage. We bring you all the ins and outs of the sport, 24/7, everything from up-to-the-minute news and features to the latest viral stories and clips.We believe that a new generation of exciting, outspoken drivers will make F1 more popular than ever before, and we want to give our users access to as much of their heroes as possible, on and off the track. From Lewis Hamilton to Max Verstappen, Daniel Ricciardo to Sebastian Vettel, we provide in-depth analysis of every every Grand Prix in the season, from Australia to Abu Dhabi.
With Formula One under the new ownership of Liberty Media, how the sport is being covered is evolving, and GPFans will look to be at the heart of this progression into new media, as one of the fastest-growing sites covering the king of motorsports.
Follow us on your favorite social media channel
Corporate & Media
Innovatieweg 20C7007 CD, Doetinchem, Netherlands
+31645516860