Russell: Younger F1 drivers have no reason to hate each other

Rivalries between drivers are put and parcel of the F1 circus, and there have been some notable incidents over the years where the battle on track spilled over into the paddock.

The most famous example in recent years is the Mercedes internal strife between Sir Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg as the two fought a tough battle for the 2016 title, with the relationship between the two long-time peers deteriorating as a result of on-track clashes and the pressure of the championship.

However, the new generation of Formula 1 drivers including Lando Norris, George Russell and Charles Leclerc seem to have a good relationship despite fighting each other on track, and speaking on the Australian GP podcast, Russell said the younger drivers remained on a good footing despite the competition between them.

"I think we have all pushed one another over the past 10 years, we have been in the same paddock for the past 10 years and come through the ranks together, so I think naturally our relationship is still relatively good because there has been no reason to have intense fallouts," he said.

"We have not crashed into each other on track. Lando (Norris) and I battled in Formula , but we didn't have any true battles going wheel to wheel or crash into each other, we had no reason to hate each other let's say.

However, the Williams driver added that the relationships could all change if the younger drivers eventually find themselves fighting with one another for the championship.

"But that was maybe the same with Lewis (Hamilton) and (Nico) Rosberg. They were good friends back in the day, as teammates everything was hunky dory and suddenly a few comings together and you're taking the championship down to the wire and that relationship soon fizzles out."