Mika Hakkinen now believes 25-year-old Formula 1 driver is already under ‘immense pressure’

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Formula 1 legend Mika Hakkinen has admitted that Mercedes driver George Russell is already under pressure ahead of the 2024 season.

George Russell failed to build on a fantastic first season with the Silver Arrows and finished eighth in the Drivers’ Championship last year.

Previewing the upcoming season for Bild, the Finnish champion was speaking about the 25-year-old’s prospects.

It’s going to be fascinating to see whether Mercedes can finally fix the issues that have plagued their car over the past two years.

After Lewis Hamilton’s years of dominance, Toto Wolff’s team simply haven’t been able to compete with Red Bull and Max Verstappen.

Aside from a maiden victory for Russell in Brazil in 2022, they’ve failed to stand on the top step of the podium in that time.

Wolff has already suggested that things are much more positive when it comes to their prospects this year.

However, Hakkinen believes that Russell is under pressure to succeed this year, especially considering the man he’s up against within the team.

Being Hamilton’s teammate can’t be easy considering the success he’s had within F1.

While Russell outscored him during his first year with Mercedes, he was very much left behind in 2023.

Hakkinen admits Russell is already under pressure

Speaking about the British driver, Hakkinen said: “Even though George [Russell] is entering his third season as a Mercedes driver, it is clear that it is Lewis’ [Hamilton] team.

“He has been driving there since 2013 and has worked with many of the engineers and mechanics for years.

“It doesn’t take ten minutes of analysis from him to explain the problem. Little things like these ultimately decide in Formula 1 whether you are in pole position or not.

Asked to expand on his feelings about Russell, Hakkinen added: “That’s true. But last season, Hamilton finished third and Russell only eighth. That didn’t surprise me.

“On the one hand, Lewis wanted to show everyone after the collapse everyone had already been talking about, and on the other hand, George was and still is under immense pressure.

“When you’re the team-mate of a seven-time world champion, all eyes are automatically on you. It doesn’t matter if you’ve finished on the podium if your team-mate has won. It’s the same for all teams – but George is racing against a record-breaking champion.”

Russell will be feeling the pressure that Hakkinen is talking about if he fails to start the season strongly.

His performance in the final race of last year in Abu Dhabi highlighted just how quick he is if everything goes to plan.

Sadly last year that didn’t happen often enough – albeit that wasn’t always his fault – but he needs to showcase more displays like the one we saw in the UAE if he’s going to be the long-term successor to Hamilton as Mercedes’s number one driver when his experienced teammate finally decides to retire.