Mika Häkkinen, a former Formula 1 driver and two-time world champion, believes George Russell’s arrival to the Mercedes team and his early success are nerve-wracking for Lewis Hamilton, who finds himself in an unusual situation.
Although Mercedes takes second place in the Constructors’ Championship after three rounds of the season, the W13 is still inferior to both the Ferrari F1-75 and the Red Bull RB18. At the same time, a limited budget forces the team to be wise with money, which can slow the pace of finding solutions, and all of this, according to Hakkinen, Hamilton is not allowed to do.
“Lewis is in a difficult position, that’s for sure,” says Mika. – Russell didn’t come to this team to be the No. 2 driver or to lose. He is here to show what he can do and to work hard to win the title in the future. And he will not bow to the seven-time world champion.
The race in Australia was very difficult for Lewis. Of course the team wants both riders to finish, and the result they showed allowed them to earn a lot of points, although they were counting on more.
But I’m sure Lewis is still unhappy. He’s afraid George is ahead of him. I’m afraid Hamilton is waiting for a very difficult season. Mercedes is already in a difficult situation, especially Lewis. George came from a team that could not boast of success, where he managed to show good results in qualifying, but not in races.
And when he successfully races behind the wheel of a Mercedes, this is new to him, and George is very happy. But for Lewis, everything that happens is just a disaster. What’s worse is that George is ahead of him.
And I wonder how Lewis behaves in team meetings. I bet he’s mad. I can imagine him complaining and grumbling.”
Given that Mercedes is unlikely to quickly resolve issues with the car that will turn the tide, and the team will be able to truly withstand Ferrari and Red Bull, Häkkinen suggested Hamilton is already considering leaving the team, as his contract expires at the end of 2023.
“This is where the natural process begins when the rider asks himself, ‘Maybe it’s time to go somewhere?’ says Hakkinen. – It is a fact. Hamilton has been with Mercedes for many years and has won many championships. But now, if things don’t go well, he’s going to think about changing the team.”
Source: F1 News
I’m Todderic Kirkman, a journalist and author for athletistic. I specialize in covering all news related to sports, ranging from basketball to football and everything in between. With over 10 years of experience in the industry, I have become an invaluable asset to my team. My ambition is to bring the most up-to-date information on sports topics around the world.
