25-year-old Formula 1 driver told they were the ‘disappointment of the season’ this year

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It’s safe to say that Mercedes driver George Russell will look back on the 2023 Formula 1 season with a sense of disappointment.

Speaking on The F1 Pod, journalist Declan Quigley has shared that the 25-year-old has fallen below expectations after a fantastic 2022 campaign.

There would have been some hope going into 2023 that Mercedes were beginning to turn things around.

George Russell was finally driving for the team full-time after proving himself with Williams and outscored Lewis Hamilton during his first season with Mercedes.

Not only that, but the young Brit recorded the team’s only win of the season in Sao Paulo.

Unfortunately, 2023 has been a season of disappointment for George Russell.

He recorded just two podiums all year, although his drive in Abu Dhabi was fantastic and he will take confidence from ending the season on a high.

This winter is an important one for Mercedes as they look to close the gap to Red Bull.

It’s hard to see how Adrian Newey can make that car any faster but he always seems to find a way.

It’s up to Toto Wolff’s team to find that extra pace that will help Russell and Hamilton challenge for wins once again.

A season of disappointment for Russell

Speaking about the 25-year-old, Quigley said: “We saw that 2022, George Russell had a really good start to the season and then Lewis [Hamilton] drove the direction [of the car], he made insistent demands and then brought the car back to where he needed it to be.

“And then he started to dominate George Russell towards the back end of 2022.

“And George actually has been the disappointment of the year for me, I thought this might have been his time.

“I’m a massive Lewis Hamilton fan and the way he sustains that performance, but I thought given his age it might be George Russell’s year but what are they 11-11 in qualifying, Hamilton has twice the points?

“It hasn’t been quite the year it could have been. Now, he did finish the year pretty strongly so it could change in a heartbeat next season.”

Russell will want to put this season’s disappointment behind him and he’s asked the team’s permission to blow off some steam before returning to action.

Mercedes have committed to Russell and Hamilton until the end of 2025 so his position on the grid isn’t immediately at risk.

Frederic Vesti and Mick Schumacher would love an opportunity in the team but that’s unlikely to arrive right now.

Russell needs a good campaign though otherwise, the pressure might begin to mount.