The word benchmark has often popped up in Formula 1. As a rule of thumb, you are always benchmarked against your teammate. Careers are either made or destroyed in this sport based on this assessment. And when we talk about Formula 1, there is no other benchmark as intimidating to match as Lewis Hamilton. The 7x champion is the established GOAT of this sport. However, ever since George Russell came onto the Mercedes scene, he’s thrown a spanner in the works.

Russell joined the Silver Arrows back in 2022. And he had a mammoth task in front of him. Drivers like Valtteri Bottas who have driven alongside the Brit can stand testament to this fact. But for young George Russell, this herculean task of taming Hamilton hasn’t fazed him one bit.

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Last year, while Hamilton and the Silver Arrows struggled, Russell put in quite a few eye-catching performances. And in 2023, he’s continued the trend. At the moment, if we are to talk about pace over a single lap, Russell definitely has the measure of the 38-year-old. Be that as it may, he’s sent shockwaves through the paddock for these reasons.

On a recent episode of the F1 Nation podcast, guest and ex-F1 driver, Pedro de la Rosa said, “But more importantly than outqualifying him I think that he’s…some races he’s even faster [in] race pace, you know. I mean they are very evenly matched and that is the beauty of these two drivers.”

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“Especially about George [Russell]. Because I think no one, no one ever expected him to be this strong, this mature.” 

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With Russell consistently outperforming the multiple-time champion, how is the relationship between the duo panning out?

Lewis Hamilton is more focused on the team

During the Miami GP, Mercedes delivered some team orders. Surprisingly though, Hamilton was on the other side of it as he was asked to make way for Russell who was on a different strategy. It must be said that it paid off as Russell finished 4th and Hamilton 6th.

After the race, Russell was heard clearing the air about the ramifications of the team orders. He said, “Thanks to Lewis for letting me by in those situations and allowing me to get on with my race, [he] obviously was in a different position. We’ve got a really good relationship at the moment and we only want the best for the team,” as quoted by Express UK.

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Can George Russell dethrone Lewis Hamilton as Mercedes’ no. 1 priority?