– Former Formula 1 driver and Sky Sports expert Martin Brundle is convinced that Mercedes driver George Russell will be able to handle the pressure of the World Championship battle, should he actually get the chance to fight for his first World Championship title in the premier class this season.
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The 28-year-old Briton, who is starting his fifth season with Mercedes, is currently among the biggest favorites on the grid. “Well, nobody trusts George more than George himself,” says Brundle with a smile when Sky Sports F1 asks him how big the leap for Russell will be this year.
“I like his approach to racing. He worked hard at Williams for years and moved to Mercedes when their dominance was fading,” the former Formula 1 driver recalls. “But he didn’t let it get him down and is the number one in the team.”
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“I think his teammate Kimi Antonelli will also have a great season. But George has the necessary self-confidence to win races, and I think he can also take the championship if the opportunity arises.”
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George Russell has beaten Lewis Hamilton
A similar question was asked last year about Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri, with the Briton in particular showing a strong final sprint and snatching the World Championship success from his teammate’s hands. “I think George is in a very good position by comparison,” Brundle compares.
The expert does not believe that his teammate could become a threat to him: “Remember that he grew up, so to speak, in the shadow of Lewis Hamilton at Mercedes, and he has that mastered, and finally, in the last year they were teammates, he beat Lewis.”
“So I have no doubts whatsoever,” Brundle clarifies once again. “They are all world-class drivers in Formula 1. You have to beat them somehow. George has so much experience now, even though he is far from 30, that I believe nothing will distract him if he has a car that can win a championship.”
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