Williams boss tells Lewis Hamilton what to expect from George Russell

Current Williams F1 boss Jost Capito has praised George Russell, saying his ‘demanding’ nature will help him at Mercedes.

Russell, a Mercedes junior, finally got the nod to replace Valtteri Bottas from the 2022 season. He will partner seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton.

The 23-year-old Russell has established himself as one of F1’s best youngsters. This was especially evident in his qualifying performances at Williams; he would often place the car way higher than it should have been.

“I think George has huge respect from all the team members and he is demanding,” Capito told Express.

“If he wants to get something done on the car, he really pushes [for it], and if he wants to get something done in the team he is pushing but always in a very positive way.

“I never heard a bad word from him all year, still being very direct in what he wants and what he expects. I think that is a fantastic attitude of George.

“Nicky [Latifi] is very much the same, so character-wise they’re very much the same and everybody likes working with them.

George Russell not selfish: Capito

Many have wondered how Russell and Hamilton will co-exist in the same team. This is not down to personal animosity, but the fact that both will be driven to win titles.

Capito said that Russell is not selfish, and would often work well with Latifi for the benefit of the team.

“They’ve also created a very good relationship with George and with Nicky, but also what was very important for the team and that is George is not there, ‘I’m the better driver here so everything is done the way I want’.

“He is really great team player as well. He knows that he wants to win and he wants to be the best; but he always is thinking about his teammate as well.

“Once in the race when he was behind and the strategy was that he pits first, he came on the radio and said, ‘let’s put the focus on Nicky and give the best for him’ and that was not he was asked for.

“Whatever he’s thinking about this during the race, he’s only thinking about the team in general and also about his teammate. I think his personal attitude is absolutely fantastic.”

Williams chose to replace Russell with Alex Albon, the former Toro Rosso and Red Bull driver. Bottas, meanwhile, joined Alfa Romeo as a replacement for Kimi Raikkonen.