Lewis Hamilton would have stayed at Mercedes on current form, says George Russell

BUDAPEST – George Russell is so sure of Mercedes’ current form and future prospects that he is convinced teammate Lewis Hamilton would not have signed for Ferrari had he known what was coming.

Seven-time world champion Hamilton, Formula One’s most successful driver of all time, stunned the sport when he announced in February

he would be racing for the Italian team next season.

Mercedes won nothing in 2023, their first season-long blank since 2011, and the 39-year-old Briton had not stood on the top step of the podium since 2021.

But the former champions are now chasing a third successive victory at this weekend’s Hungarian Grand Prix with Hamilton triumphant for

a record ninth time at his home British race

and Russell in Austria.

“I don’t think he would have left if the team were performing like this. No way he would have left,” Russell said.

“For 2026 the PU (power unit) is looking really strong and everything we’re doing with the fuels is looking great and there’s a lot of optimism for us over the next couple of years.

“As tough as these last few years have been, it really feels like we’ve got the momentum with us now.”

Ferrari have also won twice this season but their recent form has dropped off and they are in danger of losing second place to the resurgent McLaren.

“I think everybody wants change at some point,” Russell added of Hamilton. “He’s been here 12 years now, he’s achieved so much with the team. I think for him it’s exciting to have that change.

“But of course if the team you’re currently with are winning races and everything is looking super great for the future, you just want to be in the fastest car possible and it doesn’t matter what colour that is.”

The 26-year-old was on pole in Canada and at Silverstone and was a fortunate winner in Austria in June, after Red Bull’s championship leader Max Verstappen and McLaren’s Lando Norris collided.

The Briton set the fastest lap at Imola and Hamilton in Monaco and Canada.

“It’s been an incredible turnaround. At the start of this year, we knew we were taking two steps back with the car to give ourselves the possibility of three steps forward,” said Russell.

“When you start the season on the back foot you kind of question yourself, have you made the right decision, but the improvements we brought to Montreal have delivered so much performance and lap time.

“We’ve led the last four races at various points... It’s really exciting. It’s come at a great time for us. It just kind of feels like it’s clicking now.”

Russell credited technical director James Allison, who returned full time in 2023, as a key figure in the turnaround at a team who have stayed united despite the difficulties.

He also said he was performing better than ever, comparing himself with Hamilton.

“I don’t think there’s ever been more than a 10th or two splitting the two of us and that gives me a lot of confidence,” he added.

“In a different era I know I’d have been fighting for world championships.

“Now I hope this is our time to come, from now onwards.” REUTERS