Russell’s arrival from Williams coincided with Mercedes’ downturn in form as the reigning world champions struggled to get to grips with 🎐F1’s regulation overhaul at the start of 2022. 

Mercedes endured a miserable campaign though Russell was able to secureꦕ the team’s only victory in Brazil on his way to unexpectedly outperforming seven-time world 🐷champion Hamilton. 

2023 has shown little improvement so far for Mercedes, who 🦋are lagging behind early pacesetters Red Bull and have already conceded they will need to change their car concept to return to competitiveness. 

Russell reckons his reputation woဣuld have taken a hit had Hamilton decided to wa𒊎lk away from F1 at the end of 2021. 

“For me, being teammates with Lewis is such a golden opportunity,” Russell told Square Mile. “Especially now that the car isn’t performꦓing as we want. 

“Having him as my teammate has saved me in some regard, because if he had retired or left the sport when I joined the team, and we took this step backwards, people would be pointing the blaꦓme towards me! 

"But I feꩵel like now I’ve proven my worth and I’ve proven what I’m capable of, so there’s no pressure in thatꦏ regard. I’m out there to do the best job possible and I think that is a very fortunate position to be in.”

Russell has made another impressive start to the season and has out-qualified Hamilton at each of the opening three races this year, though he trails his teammate by 20 points in the168澳洲5最新开奖结果: championship after retiring with engineཧ trouble in Australia.&nbsಌp;

Despite edging Hamilton in his first season with Mercedes, the 25-year-old Briton insists he is not getting bogge🌱d down with how his performan🌊ces stack up against F1’s most decorated driver. 

“I’m not worried about any statiꦬstics or making sure that I’m on Lewis’s pace or whatever because I feel like I showed that last year,” Russell said. “What a position to be i🦄n to go up against the greatest ever.”