Hamilton - 'I don't have anything to prove' against Russell at Mercedes

Lewis Hamilton has insisted he has nothing to prove against George Russell should the Williams driver take the second seat at Mercedes for 2022.

Russell looks set to join Hamilton at the championship-leading team next year with GPFans Global understanding an announcement on Valtteri Bottas' move to Alfa Romeo will be made at next week's Italian Grand Prix.

Championship rival Max Verstappen suggested the Williams driver would make life difficult against Hamilton if given the chance to compete.

Asked of the seven-time champion if it was another hurdle to navigate in his career, Hamilton replied: "It's not like I have anything to prove.

"I have raced against some incredible drivers as team-mates, in my rookie years alongside Fernando [Alonso].

"I don't really feel like I have anything to prove. If anything, if it does turn out that I have got a new team-mate, I am in a different place in my life.

"I am more excited to see the youngsters coming through. It is not like I want to lose to a youngster naturally, but I am excited to see the progression of the sport because I am a fan of the sport at the end of the day.

"You heard me earlier on in the year talk about Lando [Norris]. It is encouraging to see these youngsters come through.

"They're fierce. I see a lot of myself in this younger generation and I think they are what this sport is going to be relying on going forward."

Hamilton and Russell can "learn from one another"

Should Russell make the step up, he would become only Hamilton's sixth team-mate in F1.

Hamilton believes "there will be things that we learn from one another," and that Mercedes is more prepared for potential fireworks than in previous years.

"It is important that respect is always there and communication will be at the core of that," he added.

"We have got an amazing setting at our team in terms of morale, in terms of processes and how the team put their arms around our two drivers - that is why we have harmony in our team.

"I think we are so much better prepared than we were in previous years."

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