Lando Norris: George Russell has ‘changed’ since moving to Mercedes
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Lando Norris thinks George Russell is a 'great person', but that he's not as 'fun' anymore.
Lando Norris and George Russell are known to be good friends off-track. Being British and being close in age meant that they attended the same karting events together, and they also raced against each other in Formula 2. Both were promoted to Formula 1 in 2019, Norris with McLaren, and Russell, with Williams.
Lando Norris has stayed at McLaren and will stay there for quite a few years, in accordance with his contract. After a stellar 2021 campaign, George Russell was promoted to Mercedes, replacing Valtteri Bottas. Considering their relative positions and cars, both are having good seasons, but Russell is having a spectacular one.
Russell is currently 34 points ahead of his teammate, seven-time world champion, Lewis Hamilton. Suffice to say, the vast majority of people would not have been expecting this, but at times, fortune has failed Lewis Hamilton, which has played its part in the lead Russell has at the moment. Nevertheless, it is an impressive feat. However, Lando Norris thinks that the Mercedes move has ‘changed’ Russell.
Also Read: Lando Norris is excited to return to Silverstone: “It is always just a great weekend itself.”
Lando Norris thinks that the ‘pressure’ has changed George Russell
In an interview with British newspaper The Independent, Lando Norris said that his parents never tried to change who he fundamentally was, which is something that happens to other drivers a lot:
“My manager, my trainer, my parents, have always tried to keep me as me, rather than try to shape me. I see other drivers get shaped more because of who they are with, [and] the teams they are with, and I don’t think that is a good thing. It takes away their personality.”
Giving the example of his friend, George Russell, Norris said: “Growing up with George for instance, was a lot of fun. He was a great person, but it is different at Mercedes – a different vibe and a different atmosphere. I just don’t see as fun a side of him.”
He did not particularly blame Mercedes or anyone for this, but said that it was likely just an effect of the ‘pressure’: “George is a great person, and I feel like the personality he had a few years ago, he would be even more popular. I don’t think it is Mercedes’ fault but the pressure of being with Mercedes, and having Lewis as a team-mate, is never going to be an easy thing.”
Despite all that, Norris praised Russell for his fantastic season: “You don’t want to be seen to be having a fun time and playing around, but on the other side there are no complaints because George is doing an amazing job this year, so it is working for him.”
The next race is Silverstone, the home race of the two drivers, and both have stated that they are excited to be racing there. While Lando Norris will be hoping for a large improvement from his weekend in Canada, George Russell may be able to fight for victory, depending on the upgrades.
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Aniket Tripathi
(1002 Articles Published)