George Russell has said that it's crucial he and Lewis Hamilton are able to work harmoniously together in 2022, as Formula 1's new regulations will mean rapid development from the teams in the early stages of the regulation cycle. Russell steps up from Williams to join Mercedes as a replacement for Valtteri Bottas for 2022, coinciding with the overhauled regulations. While Hamilton is a seven-time World Champion aiming to win a record-breaking eighth title, Russell joins as a fresh-faced youngster still targetting his first career victory in Formula 1. Looking ahead to 2022, Russell is hopeful that the pair will be able to work together. "I think there's a lot of respect between Lewis and I," he told the F1 Nation podcast. "I think we're in very different stages of our career. "Lewis is the guy he is for a reason – he's the greatest of all time. I think we go in there [and] we need to help each other because, [in 2022], the cars are just going to be developing so much, race after race. "It's not who has the quickest car at race one, it's who has the quickest car throughout the whole season. And, as drivers, we need to work together with the team to move us forward as one, and that's going to be the key."
Leaving Williams
Russell looked back with fondness at the three years he spent at Williams, the team with which he made his F1 debut and cut his teeth while learning the ropes. "They gave me my first opportunity in Formula 1, which I will be forever grateful for," he told media, including RacingNews365.com . "But I think, above all, [they] helped mould me into a better all-round driver, helped me learn the technical side of the sport much more and just develop my skills globally to become a greater driver. "I guess, above all, you build these bonds and these friendships with people, especially through the good times and even the tough times. You grow closer together with so many of your core group of people and that will last forever."
Most read
