Jacques Villeneuve: George Russell ‘quickly developing into the leader’ at Mercedes.
Jacques Villeneuve believes George Russell’s proactive strategy call at Zandvoort showed he is “quickly developing into the leader” at Mercedes.
Tuesday 6th September 2022 7:30 AM
Jon Wilde

Russell finished second to Max Verstappen in the Dutch Grand Prix, passing his team-mate Lewis Hamilton on track to secure that position. But it was not exactly a level playing field at the time because Russell had stopped for fresh tyres during the Safety Car period at a decisive point, whereas Hamilton had not been given the opportunity to do likewise because the team wanted him to keep track position in the lead.

It worked out badly for Hamilton, who had earlier been compromised by a Virtual Safety Car period, and he took out his ire on the strategists with an expletive-ridden blast over the team radio. Russell, meanwhile, had urged the team to call him into the pits and his plea was the right one as he finished two places above his colleague, extending his advantage over Hamilton to 30 points in the World Championship.

In terms of their race head-to-head record for the season – Russell’s first with Mercedes – that now stands at 9-6 to the younger of the two Britons and, according to Villeneuve, the internal balance of power is very much shifting towards the 24-year-old. “I see a change within Mercedes,” said the 1997 World Champion in his column for Formule1.nl. “George Russell is quickly developing into the leader of the team.”

‘Proactive strategy call at Zandvoort showed he is “quickly developing into the leader” at Mercedes’;

https://www.planetf1.com/news/jacque...ussell-leader/


George Russell assesses "opportunity" Lewis Hamilton has given him to shine at Mercedes
• 22:23, 21 Sep 2022
By Daniel Moxon F1 Writer

Dubbed 'Mr Saturday' for his eye-catching qualifying results in an uncompetitive Williams car, this season he has morphed into 'Mr Consistency'. Mercedes have not been able to compete with Red Bull and Ferrari for pace, but still he has been a regular sight towards the front of the pack.

Those impressive results have seen him climb to fourth in the drivers' championship, just 16 points behind second-placed Charles Leclerc. Russell also has a 35-point advantage over team-mate Hamilton, but insists he would be nowhere near where he is had it not been for the seven-time world champion's support.

Russell is optimistic for the future and believes the team will soon be in a position to offer him the chance of the race wins he wants. "I think we understand exactly why at circuits like Zandvoort and Budapest why we were competitive, and we understand why at circuits like Monza and Spa we were uncompetitive," he told the F1 website. "That doesn’t mean that we can solve the issues overnight. But we've got to keep on developing this car and next year will sort of be an evolution of this and I think now we do have a totally clear direction of how to develop the car."

‘Dubbed 'Mr Saturday', morphed into 'Mr Consistency';

https://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/formu...-2022-28050372


George Russell to become Mercedes team leader after Lewis Hamilton’s ‘insulting outburst’
Sir Lewis Hamilton finished fourth at the Dutch Grand Prix on Sunday.
10 September 2022
by James Clifford

1997 Formula 1 world champion, Jacques Villeneuve, believes that Sir Lewis Hamilton should have made the call to come into the pits towards the end of the Dutch Grand Prix. When Hamilton saw Russell pit behind him, he thought it would be in a bid to attack leader Verstappen, but it then dawned on him that the reigning champion had come into the pits for fresh tyres of his own.

The 37-year-old fumed over the radio and told the team that they had “screwed” him, and he was passed by Verstappen, Russell and Leclerc as he fell from first to fourth. Villeneuve, known for his hot takes, suggests that Hamilton ought to have made the call to pit himself. “I see a change within Mercedes, George Russell is quickly developing into the leader of the team,” the Canadian wrote in his Formule1.nl column. “He took the decision to go for the soft tyres himself. Hamilton, with all his experience and championships, could have done the same.”

Hamilton later apologised for the radio communications that were made in the heat of the moment, but the former Williams, Renault and Sauber driver criticised the way the Briton spoke to his team. “I was astonished by Lewis Hamilton’s outburst in the race and especially by the way in which he did it,” added Villeneuve.

‘Insulting Outburst’;

https://formula1news.co.uk/george-ru...ting-outburst/


Winging It F1 Podcast | Is Russell ready to lead Mercedes and when will Lewis Hamilton retire?
In the latest episode of the Winging It F1 Podcast, Nigel Chiu, Adam Dickinson and Freddie Coates discuss all things Mercedes for the rest of the 2022 Formula 1 season and beyond.
September 17, 2022
By Nigel Chiu

Lewis Hamilton and George Russell have been forced to watch Red Bull and Ferrari fight or the win at nearly every Formula 1 Grand Prix this year, as Mercedes are set to not win the constructors’ championship for the first time since 2013.

Overall, the battle between the Mercedes pair has been close but has Russell done enough to how he can lead the Silver Arrows when Hamilton retires. When will Hamilton retire is another big question in itself and what will happen if both drivers are fighting for the title.

‘Podcast Links’;

https://www.total-motorsport.com/win...milton-retire/


Lewis Hamilton judgement made by Damon Hill in George Russell comparison
LEWIS HAMILTON has struggled to match his Mercedes team-mate this season.
13:54, Tue, Sep 20, 2022
By Luke Chillingsworth

Lewis Hamilton has defied expectations for the wrong reasons as Damon Hill suggests he would not have predicted George Russell to beat the seven-time champion. Hamilton has secured just six podiums this season compared to Russell’s seven top-three finishes.

Former Williams star Russell has also finished in the top-five at every race this season when he has reached the chequered flag. His consistency has left him 35 points ahead of Hamilton in the championship with just six races remaining. Hill made the comments on the F1 Nation Podcast when he was asked if anyone would have predicted Russell to have more podiums than Hamilton. Hill replied: “No one. I wouldn’t have done. It's incredible.”

“If you come into F1 and you get a big crack at it and you come into a big team like that, he has definitely held his head way above water. Pretty solid.” Hamilton has only been beaten by teammates in the championship twice in his entire F1 career with both coming against world champions.”

‘Definitely held his head way above water. Pretty solid’;

https://www.express.co.uk/sport/f1-a...e-russell-news


Mercedes may have another George Russell on their hands who can replace Lewis Hamilton
MERCEDES could be planning to use Nyck de Vries as a long-term replacement for Lewis Hamilton.
05:30, Tue, Sep 13, 2022
By Joe Krishnan

Thousands of F1 fans had packed into the Autodromo Nazionale Monza circuit on Sunday expecting to see another thrilling race at the 'Temple of Speed'. But as Red Bull and Max Verstappen dominated once again with an 11th win from 16 races, it was the Mercedes reserve Nyck de Vries that left fans beaming with delight after a sensational debut drive.

Some would have expected the Williams novice to struggle to stay in the points given that Lewis Hamilton, Carlos Sainz and Sergio Perez were all starting at the back of the grid. But he showed his composure in the cockpit that he had developed from his years racing in other driving categories and brought home the Williams in one piece to collect two world championship points.

It may just be the first step towards something greater in the future too. De Vries, as a Mercedes reserve, will be dreaming of one day putting on the Silver Arrows as one of their two drivers. Hamilton's contract expires in 2023, meaning he may need to bide his time with Williams for next season.

‘Another George Russell on their hands’;

https://www.express.co.uk/sport/f1-a...ian-GP-F1-news