George Russell shared a significant lesson he acquired from his former partner Lewis Hamilton – the importance of prioritizing winning above all else. The leading driver for Mercedes has developed into a proficient team leader following the departure of the seven-time world champion last year.
During their time as teammates at Mercedes, Russell pushed Hamilton to perform at his best. With Kimi Antonelli taking over Hamilton’s role as a young driver at the Bahrain Grand Prix, Russell has been tasked with elevating his performance to a new level.
Russell has risen to the challenge. With six races left in the 2025 season, he joins Max Verstappen and the McLaren drivers as the only ones to have claimed a Grand Prix victory, triumphing in Montreal and Singapore.
Drawing on a valuable lesson from Hamilton, Russell reflected in a detailed article for The Players’ Tribune, stating, “I learned that winning should always be the top priority.” He expressed surprise at Hamilton’s move to Ferrari and pondered on Hamilton’s relentless pursuit of greatness beyond the track.
Russell emphasized the importance of laying the groundwork for his future in Formula One, aiming to have the freedom to choose his career path as he ages. His commitment to continuous improvement is evident as he looks ahead to his F1 journey with Mercedes under the new technical regulations.
Recently, Russell secured a lucrative multi-year contract with Mercedes, reportedly valued at around £30 million per season, ahead of the upcoming United States Grand Prix.
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