George Russell believes his reputation as a Mercedes driver was likely spared a beating thanks to Lewis Hamilton not walking away from the sport at the end of the 2021 season.
Russell's expected transfer from Williams to Mercedes took place at the end of 2021, but the Briton's maiden campaign with the Brackley squad last year was anything but a thrilling beginning, with the team undermined by the chronic aerodynamic design flaws of its new-generation car.
For the better part of the season, Russell and Hamilton battled the vagaries of their W13, with progress finally ensuing in the latter part of the year and culminating with Russell's dominant win in the Brazilian Grand Prix at Interlagos.
But Russell reckons that had he been on his own at Mercedes last season, without Hamilton at his side, many would have perhaps blamed the young Briton for his team's spectacular underperformance.
"For me, being team-mates with Lewis is such a golden opportunity," Russell said in an interview with British lifestyle magazine Square Mile. “Especially now that the car isn’t performing as we want.
"Having him as my team-mate has saved me in some regard, because if he had retired or left the sport when I joined the team, and we took this step backwards, people would be pointing the blame towards me!
"But I feel like now I’ve proven my worth and I’ve proven what I’m capable of, so there’s no pressure in that regard.
"I’m out there to do the best job possible and I think that is a very fortunate position to be in."
©Mercedes
Last year, Russell not only delivered to Mercedes its only victory of the season, he also outscored Hamilton by 35 points in the Drivers' championship.
And this year, he has outqualified the seven-time world champion in each of the three races that have taken place so far.
Yet Russell looks at the numbers from afar, and with a fair amount of indifference.
"I’m not worried about any statistics or making sure that I’m on Lewis’s pace or whatever because I feel like I showed that last year," he said.
"What a position to be in to go up against the greatest ever!"
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