George Russell has revealed that Mercedes has promised that he will be treated equally to 7-time world champion Lewis Hamilton who is also signed with the team till the end of the 2023 season. This means that Russell hasn't been hired as a number 2 driver which is a clear indicator that Mercedes view him as the successor to Hamilton once the sterling Briton decides to hang up his racing boots. Hamilton who is already 36 will be 38 by the time the 2023 season starts.
"I'm definitely going on level terms and that was made very clear to me. Mercedes are always respectful in that regard, to give both drivers the best opportunity. Naturally, I believe in myself and I have high aspirations but equally, I know just how tough it is going to be," he told the media on the sidelines of the Italian GP.
Many believe that Russell will make life uncomfortable for Hamilton in his last few years
"Lewis is a seven-time world champion for a reason and I think I'm in one of the most fortunate positions on the grid to be able to go out there and learn from him. For myself, I see this partnership with Mercedes as a long-term thing and I need to use next year as a real opportunity to learn everything I can and take it race by race and just see how I get on," he added.
Also Read: Russell to Partner Hamilton In 2022
Russell has had a sterling three years at the Williams F1 team where he has hauled up a car at the back end of the grid in reasonable qualifying positions. This year he also scored his first points for the team and also came in P2 at the farcical Belgian GP after a truly awe-inspiring qualifying lap in the rain beating out even Lewis Hamilton who was driving the much faster Mercedes.
Russell's dear friend and former Red Bull driver Alex Albon is replacing him at the Grove-based team while Valtteri Bottas the current Mercedes number 2 will be moving to Alfa Romeo in 2022. All of this was initially triggered by the retirement of 2007 world champion Kimi Raikkonen who is currently stricken by COVID19.
