Martin Brundle expects 26-y/o F1 driver to ‘come out’ of his teammate’s ‘shadow’

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Martin Brundle expects George Russell to ‘come out of Lewis Hamilton’s shadow’ and lead Mercedes after the seven-time F1 champion agreed to switch to Ferrari for 2025.

The Scuderia stunned the Formula 1 world at the start of February by poaching Hamilton to replace Carlos Sainz. He will move to Ferrari after the 2024 season and his 12th season with Mercedes. The 39-year-old joined the Silver Arrows from McLaren back in the 2013 season.

Since his arrival sat beside Nico Rosberg at the Brackley outfit, Hamilton has led Mercedes to unprecedented success. They are the greatest driver-team pairing in F1’s history with six drivers’ titles and eight teams’ titles from 2014 to 2021 – with Rosberg winning big in 2016.

Russell is Mercedes’ only Grand Prix winner since joining in 2022

Hamilton has even won 82 of his record 103 Grand Prix victories driving for Mercedes since 2013. The Briton has further achieved 78 of his record 104 pole positions and achieved 148 of his record 197 podiums. But he has not won any race since the Saudi Arabian GP in 2021.

Only Russell has won a race with Mercedes since joining the Silver Arrows in 2022 to replace Valtteri Bottas. The 26-year-old sealed the double at the 2022 Sao Paulo GP by winning the Sprint and the Grand Prix. But neither Briton would take the chequered flag in first last year.

Hamilton beat Russell in their 2023 F1 Grand Prix head-to-head

Winning his debut race in Brazil in 2022 also helped Russell to edge Hamilton in their head-to-head battle that season. The King’s Lynn native edged the Stevenage-born star 12-10 for Grand Prix results. But Hamilton came out on top in qualifying with a 13-9 record that year.

The Mercedes pair drew 11-11 in qualifying through 2023 but Hamilton beat Russell in their Grand Prix results head-to-head 15-7. Yet former Williams and McLaren driver Brundle feels 2024 can be the season Russell comes out of Hamilton’s shadow. He has told Sky Sports F1:

“I’m looking forward to George Russell coming out of Lewis Hamilton’s shadow a little bit. I think he has got all the ingredients to step up and lead that team as the season progresses.”