George Russell Pinpoints Area Of Improvement In Battle Against Lewis Hamilton

The Mercedes driver has said he is confident for the upcoming 2023 season.

As he gears up for his second F1 season with Mercedes, George Russell has expressed confidence that he has much more to offer on the track.

Despite a difficult 2022 campaign in which Mercedes lost their eight-year streak of constructors' titles, Russell impressed with his performance, managing to outdo his teammate and seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton.

Russell's debut season with the Silver Arrows saw him clinch Mercedes' sole race win of the year, while finishing two places and 35 points ahead of Hamilton in the final championship standings. His success also marked the first time that Hamilton had been beaten by a teammate since Nico Rosberg in 2016.

The Briton has credited the Mercedes team with helping him to develop as a driver and adapt to the demands of the sport, while also acknowledging that there is always room for improvement.

Russell's drive and determination to keep raising the bar bodes well for the upcoming season, as he looks to continue his upward trajectory and compete at the highest level of motorsport. Russell explained:

“I think the great thing with Formula 1 and this sport is that it’s constantly evolving, and it’s a new challenge every single year.

“There’s definitely still room to improve, and I feel that fills me with confidence, because I still felt like I performed at a very high level, even though that I know I’ve got a lot more in my pocket.

“I think the main one is probably just the tyre management. It’s something Lewis is very good at, maximising the stints and getting the most out of the tyres across a stint.

“That year under my belt being team-mates with him, seeing some of his traits, has been really, really beneficial for me.

“So I feel like I was on quite a steep learning curve in that regard. But still, I feel like I’ve got a lot more to come.”

The British driver continued:

“Looking back on those races, I would say most of the reasons were from trying too hard, and that was a big lesson I learned, that sometimes the harder you try and the more you push, sometimes the result isn’t better.

“You’ve got to be very disciplined with yourself sometimes in your approach of knowing how hard to push yourself.

“It’s the same if you went to the gym every single day and was doing maximum bench presses every single day, at one point you’re probably going to injure yourself. It’s not the most efficient way to get stronger.

“That’s representative of racing. If you go out there and you drive the thing in anger, pushing it beyond the limit every single lap, that is not the fastest way to drive. Those races were probably validation for me.”