Lewis Hamilton shrugs off concerns over George Russell harmony at Mercedes

Mercedes

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Hamilton shrugs off concerns over Russell harmony at Mercedes

Russell looks set to become a Mercedes driver for 2022

Ian Parkes & Ewan Gale

Friday 3 September 2021 09:29

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Lewis Hamilton has dismissed concerns that team harmony would suffer if George Russell replaces Valtteri Bottas at Mercedes next season.

Mercedes is in its fifth season with Hamilton and Bottas as a pairing but with Russell looking increasingly likely to earn promotion from Williams, GPFans understands the Finn will replace the retiring Kimi Raikkonen at Alfa Romeo.

Bottas has played his part in each world championship double for the Silver Arrows, leading to Hamilton declaring his loyalty to his current team-mate on numerous occasions.

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Asked for his feelings as to how a team dynamic between himself and Russell would work, Hamilton replied: "I think it would be quite good.

"I honestly think it would be good. George is an incredibly talented driver, clearly. I would say the only highlight from last week was his qualifying lap, it was amazing [refering to Russell's lap in the wet in a Williams].

"He is humble, he has got a great approach. Naturally, being British, I would imagine probably helps in terms of communication.

"At the moment, I have to be super supportive of the team-mate I have right now.

"That's why I am always supportive of Valtteri because we have a job to do right now. Neither of us can win the team championship alone, we have to do it collectively."

Russell is the "future" of F1 - Hamilton

Russell's pending promotion leaves F1 in a purple patch talent-wise, with the opportunity to see him go up against Max Verstappen in the Red Bull, Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz at Ferrari and Lando Norris at McLaren.

"He is the future," added Hamilton.

"He is one of the members of the future of the sport so, I think he is already showing incredible driving so far and I am sure he is going to continue to grow.

"Where better to do it than in a great team like this, or whatever team he goes to."