Hill warns Russell: 'Starting to find out what a competitor Hamilton is'

After three seasons at Williams, Russell made the switch to Mercedes' top team this year. The Briton has shown he is incredibly consistent by relentlessly finishing inside the top five, a run that did not come to an end until the British Grand Prix.

In the drivers' championship, Russell is 27 points ahead of his teammate Hamilton in the fourth position. With four races to go, it will be exciting which of the two drivers finishes on top. World champion Hill is very impressed with Russell's performance in his first year with Mercedes.

"He’s come into this very difficult situation. He’s absolutely stamped his authority and credentials on this team and also as a viable contender and a viable teammate to Lewis Hamilton. There’s not many people that have managed to not be crushed by that relationship", Hill begins in the F1 Nation podcast.

Mercedes strong again next year?

Hill does stress that Russell will have to step up a gear if he wants to beat Hamilton, as the seven-time world champion seems to have come back to life after a difficult first half of the season. "When Lewis has started to be more motivated, which he seems to be this latter half of the season, sniffing the opportunities of better results, I think George is starting to find out quite what a competitor Lewis is."

Hill believes Russell has proved he is a potential world champion. The Briton expects Mercedes may be fighting for the title again in 2023. "There’s a good chance that Lewis could be fighting for the championship again next year, as could George", says the former F1 driver.