George Russell recently revealed the discussions he had with his psychologist when he was brought to Mercedes. Knowing he would be racing alongside Lewis Hamilton, the Briton questioned whether his self-confidence would be sufficient to compete against a seven-time world champion. With a few key lessons in mind, he managed to beat the Mercedes veteran.
Mercedes decided to replace regular driver Valtteri Bottas with Williams’ promise George Russell after the 2021 season. The latter had gained three years of experience with the team from Grove before he was brought to the German top team. While Lewis Hamilton had just missed his coveted eighth world title, Russell had to prepare for the enormous challenge that awaited him alongside the multiple world champion.
In the Untapped podcast, Russell reflected on his move to Mercedes. “It was one of the most special days of my life,” he recalled. “It feels like you’re climbing a ladder, but in this case, it felt like I had skipped three steps.” The British driver discussed how he mentally prepared for the collaboration with Hamilton. “In the run-up to the transfer, I always believed in myself, but you only really know how good you are when you compete against the very best ever,” he referred to the seven-time world champion. “On top of that, I was stepping into ‘his’ team – everything was built around him. Of course, I felt young, healthy, and ready to take on the fight, but I just didn’t know what to expect.”
Yearning for a Title Fight
Russell recalled important advice from his psychologist. “We had a good conversation, and I concluded that when I walk into the garage, jump in the car, and lower my visor, my fate is in my own hands. Regardless of whether I’m driving next to a seven-time world champion or a rookie. Since then, that’s been my approach.” Russell also realized that he wouldn’t win every race against Hamilton. “I had to accept that I wouldn’t always be able to finish ahead of Lewis Hamilton. And that’s perfectly understandable, because you can’t compete against the greatest of all time and expect to always beat him. That was probably the biggest psychological change I’ve undergone; accepting that my goal is to beat him over a season.”
Russell managed to finish above Hamilton both in 2022 and 2024, although Mercedes could no longer compete for the championship during that period. “Of course, my goal was to beat Lewis, but at the same time, I also wanted to become world champion,” Russell admitted honestly. “However, those two goals were intertwined.” Since joining Mercedes, Russell has won four Grands Prix. He has now taken over the role of lead driver and is still yearning for a chance to compete for the title.
