It’s insane to imagine how a young driver comes in and beats a 7-time world champion consistently. George Russell certainly accomplished this insane feat in some style. In a season when Lewis Hamilton was having back aches due to an unpredictable car, Russell held his nerve to edge him out. Nonetheless, he was grateful to Lewis for all the plaudits he received. George felt that because Hamilton was his teammate at Mercedes, it highlighted his performance.

Russell outscored Hamilton by 35 points in the championship in 2022. While the car was not quick enough to get wins in the early season, when it became quick, it was once again George who won a race for the Silver Arrows. Yet, he thanked Lewis for his elevated status in F1.

In an interview with GP Fans, Russell stated, “I’ve got a lot to thank him for because had Lewis [Hamilton] not been my team-mate this year, people would’ve thought very differently about me this year.”

The man from King’s Lynn might just be rubbing salt in Hamilton’s wounds by saying that his presence made his performances better. Nonetheless, it still was a close fight.

He further stated, “I joke with him that he probably saved my career by staying on in Formula 1 this year because had he retired, and I had the exact same year as I’ve done this year, I’m sure perception would’ve been drastically different.”

The 24-year-old might just be reminding Lewis, in a subtle way, that he beat the champion driver. Still keeping his hilarious dig aside, the Mercedes duo is having a good team dynamic so far.

Despite Losing Out on Mercedes Battle, Lewis Hamilton Tips His Hat To George Russell

Russell has been one of the drivers of the season in 2022. While his only win for the Brackley team was a consolation prize, his true litmus test is pending. No one knows whether he will be able to handle the pressure of going for the championship against Hamilton or Verstappen.

Has George Russell got the Skills to beat Lewis Hamilton in a championship fight?

What Russell experienced in 2022 was an upgraded experience of his Williams years since 2019. While he was much higher up the grid with a much faster car, it was Lewis Hamilton’s comfort zone to fight in the midfield. So there can be the argument that Russell is yet to prove his mettle in a championship fight against Lewis.

Hamilton has fought for the world title in 12 of the 16 seasons he competed in. The 37-year-old has got immense experience in how to play the long game for a championship. So, George has got to prove he can cope with the pressure of a title challenge.

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While many would argue how he won F2 in his first attempt, F1 is a whole different ballgame. Even Charles Leclerc won F2 in his first season, and his first F1 title challenge went badly in 2022. It is not as easy to replicate the feeder series’ form in Formula 1.

Still, Russell has got all ingredients of a good racer. Unless we see him in a title battle, no one knows whether he will crumble under pressure or not.

Watch This Story: F1 drivers congratulate George Russell for his first-ever win at the Sao Paulo GP

We may get the answer if Mercedes produces a fast car in 2023. And if they do, Hamilton is leaving no stone unturned to make life difficult for George. What do you think? Can George keep the 7-time champion at bay again?