Hamilton plays down risk of Russell conflict next F1 season
Dec.14 - Lewis Hamilton does not think his relationship with teammate George Russell will become strained in 2023.
This year, 24-year-old Russell arrived at the works team to replace Valtteri Bottas - and not only out-scored seven time world champion Hamilton but became the only Mercedes race winner in 2022.
Hamilton, 37, insists he wasn't surprised.
"I saw what he did at Williams, which was already impressive," he is quoted by motorsport-total.com. "And this year he surpassed himself.
"What he did this year was really impressive. He got the most out of it in every race," Hamilton added.
However, Hamilton said his fellow Briton was well prepared for the task.
"In previous years he was with us more and more often and he already knew the engineers. That made it easier for him to adapt," he said.
"He was the perfect reinforcement for our team and he brought a lot of positive energy. We communicate well with each other on equal terms and have a lot of mutual respect."
And Hamilton does not expect that to change in 2023, even if Mercedes is back in the championship fight with Red Bull and Ferrari.
When asked about the potential for conflict, he insisted: "I don't believe that will happen.
"I'm experienced enough and I've been with this team for so long that I can handle these kinds of challenges. It won't be a problem," said Hamilton.
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Translation: "He's faster than me, but I get paid more."
I love it!!!!
Expect a lot of 'oh my back hurts'; 'The car did have the pace today; 'the car was purpoising all day'; 'my tires were shot; 'I had a bad groin vibration'.....stuff like that....
Sir Lewis does not have 'tires' he uses tyres.
Excusez-moi!! Where I come from we don't have Sirs of Dames... But I stand corrected; what do the Non-Sir F1 drivers ride on?
TP, I'm gonna' correct you again. The non-sirs don't ride 'on', they ride 'over'.....mostly Lewie lately.
Hell have to prepare version 3.0 of the b$$lsh$$$ Code each time King G is quicker, 80 days till Race 1, with Lucy having just had her 38th (Jan 23 send a card everyone) birthday, mid season Nando will have his 42nd, with King G 25yr in Feb, still nice to have some oldies on the grid, and oldies as in f1 oldies.
I see the chuckle brothers got in early
It sounds like there is a kind of "Hunt / Lauda" relationship going on. That's not at all a bad thing. I suspect it'll bring the best out in both of them, as it did for the other Odd Couple. Respect the hell out of each other, but race the wheels off their car to beat the other SOB.
Great stuff.
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