The challenge Russell will pose to Hamilton’s Mercedes legacy
The arrival of George Russell at Mercedes in 2022 will represent the biggest threat Lewis Hamilton has faced from a teammate since 2016, the last season of his rivalry with Nico Rosberg. As F1's statistical greatest driver reaches the end of his career, their dynamic could come to define perceptions of Hamilton in years to come.
For only the third time since returning to Formula 1 with a works team in 2010, Mercedes will enter next season with a change in its driver line-up.
George Russell is the first driver Mercedes has actively sought to bring in since signing Lewis Hamilton as Michael Schumacher’s replacement for 2013. The only other change came for 2017, when Nico Rosberg’s shock retirement prompted Mercedes to bring in Valtteri Bottas from Williams over the winter.
Share Or Save This Story
Luke Smith is Autosport’s Formula 1 reporter. Luke has been working in F1 as a journalist since 2013, initially alongside a History degree at University College London. Luke served as the lead F1 writer at American broadcaster NBC Sports from 2013-17 before spending two years as the F1 Editor for Crash.net. Luke joined Autosport for the 2020 season.
Luke is also a contributor to The New York Times for its F1 special reports, and has previously worked with Al Jazeera and CNBC, as well as hosting FIA press conferences. Outside of F1, Luke is a fan of sports and music, with an ever-growing vinyl collection, and has being bitten by the running bug in recent years. He also runs a surprisingly popular blog reviewing the often-terrible media centre coffee from his F1 travels.
More from Luke Smith
The race that transformed perceptions of Red Bull
Has Alonso made the right choice gambling on Aston Martin F1?
Hamilton in the process of selecting Brad Pitt’s co-star for F1 movie
How "demanding" Alonso has started life with Aston Martin F1
Ocon got "very sick" in F1 off-season due to bad lung virus
Brown: No reason not to expand F1 grid if new teams pay "fair" fee
Hamilton: Nothing will stop me speaking up on important issues in F1
Mercedes and Hamilton had "first chat" over new F1 contract
Latest news
Hawksworth “knew it was going to be a battle” for GTD Pro win at Sebring
NASCAR and Goodyear baffled by Bristol tire wear issues
How Bruce McLaren's death shaped more than just his F1 team
Kyle Larson would prefer "never to run a race like that again"
Prime
How Bruce McLaren's death shaped more than just his F1 team
Why Mohammed Ben Sulayem believes his mission to create a strong FIA is so important
The Beckham clues as to where Verstappen and Red Bull are heading
How Bearman's F1 debut will help Mercedes on its Hamilton replacement call
Subscribe and access Motorsport.com with your ad-blocker.
From Formula 1 to MotoGP we report straight from the paddock because we love our sport, just like you. In order to keep delivering our expert journalism, our website uses advertising. Still, we want to give you the opportunity to enjoy an ad-free and tracker-free website and to continue using your adblocker.
You have 2 options:
- Become a subscriber.
- Disable your adblocker.