Russell: 'Of all the F1 team mates, Hamilton and I are closest'

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George Russell says to be same level as Lewis Hamilton
29 June 2023 at 15:30
Last update 29 June 2023 at 16:57
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  • GPblog.com

George Russell looked to be getting off to a better start than Lewis Hamilton in 2023 after also finishing 2022 strongly. After Mercedes' upgrades in Monaco, Hamilton seems to have the upper hand. Russell thinks it is pure coincidence. They are evenly matched.

So Russell tells the press in Spielberg ahead of the 2023 Austrian GP weekend. The gaps between the teams are not large in 2023, but it is also exciting between teammates. For instance, it seems to be swinging between Russell and Hamilton of Mercedes. At least, that is what the Mercedes driver himself says.

Hamilton and Russell most evenly matched?

Since the upgrades, Hamilton has been outperforming Russell and that was asked about during the press conference. Russell: "It’s pure coincidence, I think it's like you say, it's very fine margin All the teams on the grid, we're I think statistically the closest of everybody in terms of teammates. Lewis obviously a very strong driver."

Russell led in the championship last year, now Hamilton is well ahead. Yet Russell sees a striking relationship between himself and the seven-time world champion. Russell: "I think at the start of last year, I think Lewis was on a higher level than what I was. Yet, I was well ahead of him in the championship and now this year I think we're at a very close level and you know the championships, you know, I'm 40 odd points behind him"