Former F1 driver claims Mercedes will be FINE if Hamilton leaves as they have PERFECT replacement
Former F1 driver claims Mercedes will be FINE if Hamilton leaves as they have PERFECT replacement
Former F1 driver Johnny Herbert has claimed that Mercedes do not need to worry if Lewis Hamilton leaves them at the end of the season, as George Russell is "more than capable" of stepping up in his absence.
Toto Wolff has revealed that it is a matter of days before Hamilton signs a new contract at Mercedes, but Herbert for one believes that the team will be fine without him.
The three-time F1 race winner believes that in Russell, Mercedes have a driver who can be seen as the future of the sport – something they should perhaps keep in mind during contract negotiations with the 38-year-old.
READ MORE: Mercedes star Russell offered SENSATIONAL F1 'swap deal'
"Mercedes are in a very lucky position because we are all very aware of what George Russell does," he told OLBG. "He has really stepped up and he has really put Hamilton under a lot of pressure.
"Russell is the future whatever we think of Hamilton, who we know is still good enough to win races.
"Russell is more than capable of being the driver to produce what Mercedes need and who will be very beneficial to them in the future."
'Mercedes' Spanish GP heroics might be a one-off'
Regardless of Hamilton's future in the team, Herbert believes that, in the short-term, the upcoming Canadian Grand Prix could prove to be a struggle for the Silver Arrows despite their improved performance in Barcelona.
"It is one damn race we are talking about," he added when asked if Mercedes are back on track after their Spanish Grand Prix double podium. "Let’s see what happens in Canada and the next couple of races.
"Monaco was pretty much the same old, it was better in Barcelona but we don’t know if it will be repeated. Max [Verstappen] at Red Bull is almost pretty much certain to win.
"Despite that improvement they are still a long way off the Red Bull. The pure speed of the Ferrari is there or thereabouts with Red Bull but they fall down when it comes down to the race. That can be sorted out."
READ MORE: Mercedes boss Wolff provides HUGE Hamilton contract update
Related
Change your timezone:
Latest News
Hamilton and Wolff centre stage as F1 shuts down New York for new emoji launch
- Just now
Newey 'desire' for DIFFERENT role at Ferrari revealed
- 18 minutes ago
F1 wonderkid in Imola TEST amid driver replacement reports
- 1 hour ago
F1 News Today: Newey Ferrari links given boost as star DROPPED from team
- 3 hours ago
Hamilton in Ferrari F1 SHOCK as star targeted for stunning Audi move - GPFans F1 Recap
- Yesterday 23:57
Former Perez F1 boss reveals who should replace him
- Yesterday 21:57
Related news
F1 rival makes stunning Hamilton 'best' claim despite poor form
Hamilton F1 rival makes astonishing admission with Verstappen claim
Hamilton in Ferrari F1 SHOCK after team snub revealed
Hamilton in Arsenal title wish after STUNNING revelation
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