George Russell accuses Lewis Hamilton of ‘talking nonsense’ after what he heard the Ferrari driver say

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George Russell and Lewis Hamilton are enduring rather contrasting seasons since the British drivers parted ways, after the latter moved from Mercedes to Ferrari for 2025.

A new dawn arrived in Brackley this year, as Russell stepped up to guide Mercedes alongside rookie Andrea Kimi Antonelli after Hamilton defected to Ferrari after 12 seasons in silver. Yet while Mercedes have rejoiced over Russell’s results, Hamilton is still to shine at the Scuderia.

Russell is fourth in the F1 drivers’ championship with 172 points coming out of the summer break at the Dutch Grand Prix this weekend. But Hamilton is sixth in the standings with 109 points for the seven-time drivers’ champion’s worst haul through 14 rounds of his F1 career.

Since F1 introduced the current point-scoring system in 2010, Hamilton had never recorded fewer than the 142 points he registered with McLaren in 2012 through 14 rounds before he joined Ferrari. Hamilton is also yet to take a Grand Prix podium finish in the 2025 F1 season.

George Russell says Lewis Hamilton is ‘talking nonsense’ calling himself ‘useless’

Hamilton even went into the summer break on the back of failing to score points in a Grand Prix he finished for the first time as a Ferrari driver. Additionally, Hamilton suggested Ferrari “need to change driver” and that he was “useless” after he only qualified in P12 in Hungary.

READ MORE: Ferrari driver Lewis Hamilton’s life outside F1 from net worth to family

But Russell does not believe that Hamilton truly feels “useless”, and says his comments only came due to the pain that his compatriot felt at the Hungarian Grand Prix. Russell also feels Hamilton winning the F1 Sprint in China back in March proves he is “clearly” still dangerous.

“Of course, he’s talking nonsense when he says that because he’s the best driver of all time,” Russell told the media ahead of the Dutch GP. “When you have a bad day, you feel like that. When you have a good day, everything changes.

“He’s still an exceptional driver. He won the Sprint right at the beginning of the year in China. He’s clearly still got it.”

Lewis Hamilton is still adapting to Ferrari’s methods after 18 years racing for British teams

Hamilton appeared to get his Ferrari career off to a fantastic start in Shanghai, when the 40-year-old won the F1 Sprint at the Chinese Grand Prix from pole position in round two of the term. But it has proven to be a red herring, with the Briton’s Scuderia adventure full of woe.

Ferrari have seen Hamilton eliminated from qualifying during Q1 at the Belgian Grand Prix in a season-worst P16, as well as being knocked out during Q2 three times. Teammate Charles Leclerc has reached Q3 at 13 of the 14 Grands Prix so far this season ahead of the Dutch GP.

But the Briton’s woe has not all been his fault, with Hamilton struggling to adapt to Ferrari’s car and their methods, after 18 seasons racing in British teams. Hamilton has given Ferrari a raft of documents citing various issues he has seen operationally since moving to Maranello.

Ferrari also started the season believing that they could fight for the titles this term, but the pride of Italy are 299 points shy of constructors’ championship leaders McLaren. Still, Bernie Ecclestone has urged Hamilton to retire to save his legacy, as his wait for a podium persists.