Mercedes’ senior engineer convinced George Russell would be an F1 world champion

The Mercedes team battle has pretty much become a one sided affair with Lewis Hamilton edging out George Russell.

Mercedes’ senior engineer convinced George Russell would be an F1 world champion

Andrew Shovlin (Left, credits: The Independent) and George Russell (Right, credits: PlanetF1)

George Russell, dazzled in his rookie season with Mercedes, has faced a challenging sophomore year that has brought up some questions about Mercedes relying on the Brit for their future. Despite the current setbacks, a senior engineer from Mercedes holds steadfast to one conviction that Russell is destined to be a Formula 1 champion.

In his debut season, Russell emerged as a force to be reckoned with. He outscored the seven-time champion, his teammate Lewis Hamilton, leaving a strong impression on the racing world. However, the 2023 season has been a different story. With only one podium finish and a notable performance gap compared to Hamilton, Russell’s journey has hit a rough patch.

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Despite the lost form, Andrew Shovlin, the trackside engineering director at Mercedes, offers an emphatic vote of confidence. “He’s a hugely professional driver who’s working very, very hard,” Mirror quotes Shovlin. “And he’s one of those that you’d say no doubt he’ll win a championship at some point, providing we can give him a car that’s fit for that job.”

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Russell’s rise to prominence has been nothing short of remarkable. Promoted from Williams to Mercedes, he clinched a memorable victory in Brazil during a tumultuous 2022 season. However, 2023 has brought challenges, with Russell currently trailing in the standings compared to his teammate. Russell’s 2022 consistency, 17 out of 22 top-5 finishes, contrasts with 2023’s mere 4 out of 12.

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George Russell
George Russell (Credits: Motorsport.com)

Before the Monaco upgrades, Russell held an advantage over Hamilton with a median qualifying gap of 0.176 seconds over the seven-time world champion. Yet, the recent changes have seen the momentum swing in Hamilton’s favor, as he edged out Russell by over 0.35 seconds. Despite this shift, Russell’s technical prowess and adaptability remain evident.

Reflecting on his performance, Russell acknowledges the ups and downs of the season. “It’s been a season of two halves,” he admits. Mistakes and missed opportunities have played a role in his current standing. He believes that “if you’re not fighting for the P1 in the drivers’ championship, you just want to maximise the constructors’.” Russell added, “so far, we’re doing that.” Mercedes is currently locked in a four-way fight for the runner-up spot.

As the F1 circus takes a breather during the summer break, Russell’s determination remains unwavering. The trackside engineering director’s words reverberate as he acknowledged that the Brit is “super focused and no doubt that he’ll be part of much success for the team in the future.”

Russell is currently sixth in the standings and is nearly 50 points adrift of Hamilton, who is challenging his former teammate, Fernando Alonso, for the third position. George’s path, though bumpy at the moment, seems destined for championship glory. As the seasons unfold, one can’t help but wonder if Andrew Shovlin’s words will indeed ring true – a future where George Russell claims the coveted title.

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