If Mercedes F1 is having a very complicated start to the season with the new regulations, George Russell presents a very satisfactory personal record following four Grands Prix contested within his new team.
The Briton is now the only driver on the grid to have consistently finished in the top 5 this season. And at Imola, his performance was even more remarkable: eleventh on the grid, Russell made an excellent start and reached the finish in fourth position, while his illustrious teammate Lewis Hamilton struggled to finish in thirteenth position.
For Nico Rosberg there is no doubt: the former Williams driver was the ideal recruit for Mercedes to replace Valtteri Bottas.
“It was risky taking on George to replace Bottas as he presented so many unknowns, but now we can say he was a brilliant choice,” commented the 2016 world champion.
“George showed exemplary maturity and scored as many points as possible with this car.
Russell must try to beat Lewis Hamilton
If Russell joined the German team at a delicate moment in its history in F1, Rosberg believes that failing to fight for the title, he might set another very ambitious objective: to beat Lewis Hamilton.
“It’s bound to be disappointing for George, he expected to be fighting for wins or even the championship and so he has to scale back his ambitions.”
“Nevertheless, he is still very young and he is presented with a huge opportunity to beat the greatest driver of all time in the same car, regardless of their final placings.”
“It’s so important for George to be close to Lewis, to beat him as soon as possible because it will define the rest of his career at Mercedes.”
“He drove brilliantly all weekend at Imola, it was the first time this year that he really dominated Lewis and of course we are very attentive to that.
“He was regarding four tenths quicker than Lewis all weekend and consistently ahead of him which is a great achievement from him and the first time we’ve seen him ride at a level worthy of a champion. world.”
