George Russell finally got his big Mercedes break. Now he must make it count

The idea that George Russell would one day get a seat at Mercedes wasn’t that far fetched, given he’s managed by team principal Toto Wolff and is clearly rated highly by the team hierarchy. However, there was always the question of whether or not Mercedes would want to drop Valtteri Bottas.

But as Russell strengthened his own case for the seat, Bottas’ performances dipped. As such, by the time the rumours went into overdrive, it seemed like a formality.

That formality was then confirmed on Tuesday (September 7), less than a day after Bottas’ move to Alfa Romeo was confirmed.

Few will say the Brit doesn’t deserve the move. He’s performed well in a Williams team that are nowhere close to being a top team. Before that, he won the F2 championship in 2018 where he beat Lando Norris, currently of McLaren.

He also won the GP3 title in 2017, winning the championship with two races to spare. As such, he clearly has the racing pedigree that Mercedes desires.

However, even though he’s now gotten one of the most coveted seats in F1, there are challenges that will lie ahead – both in the short and long term.

How will the equation with Lewis Hamilton go?

The first tricky landmine that George Russell will have to navigate will be within his team.

It’s no secret that, since Nico Rosberg’s shock retirement in 2016, Mercedes has been the Lewis Hamilton team. Bottas was a capable driver but no match for Hamilton in a title fight. Although that’s not an insult; Hamilton didn’t become a seven-time world champion by being easy to beat.

Yet that presents a tricky roadblock for Russell. Bottas might not have been as good as Hamilton, but he was an excellent teammate. As such, he and Hamilton got on swimmingly, in stark contrast to the turmoil of 2014-16.

Hamilton himself was vocal in his belief that the team didn’t necessarily need changing. However, the final call in this matter rested with Wolff and Mercedes.

And, for his part, Hamilton put out a warm welcome to his new teammate on social media. He has also spoken highly of Russell in the past.

The key question is how will that position change now that Russell is his teammate?

For starters, it might not change all that much. Hamilton has won six world championships for the team, and is widely considered one of best – if not the best – to ever do it.

In the short term, the major focus will remain on Hamilton. Russell will be expected to challenge for podiums and wins, but Hamilton will carry the title hopes.

Of course, things could go south in a hurry if Russell gets a few wins early in his career. It would also be ironic, given how Hamilton’s rookie season in F1 panned out at McLaren.

However, any friction would be a short-term thing given Hamilton’s future post-2023 is uncertain. There’s also the fact that Russell needs to work on certain parts of his game.

George Russell not yet the total package

Anyone who’s watched George Russell over the past three years knows where his strengths lie. He can generate great pace over a single lap in the Williams, which has seen him put in some stellar qualifying shows.

Indeed, he’s earned the nickname “Mr. Saturday” from new Williams team boss Jost Capito. Still, it’s worth noting that such a nickname can be a curse too.

After all, no one wants to be pegged as a qualifying specialist – just ask Jarno Trulli. Russell would do well to not go down that path. But it isn’t his pace that is the worying factor. It’s his decision-making – especially in the heat of the moment.

Russell’s Williams career had its fair share of moments where he missed out on points due to trying too hard. Who can forget him crashing out while trying to warm up the tyres behind the Safety Car at Imola in 2020? Or his crash with Bottas at the same venue a year later?

There’s also the fact that he would need to work on knowing when to consolidate and when to go for broke. Racing at breakneck speed at all times will only lead to errors.

However, these are things that will come only with time. And, as he proved in the Sakhir Grand Prix in 2020, he has the pace and racing smarts to be in winning positions.

Plus, he will be teaming up with a multi-time world champion. Who better than Hamilton to learn a few tricks from when it comes to winning races and championships?

It’s clear to all that the Brit has the talent to succeed in the sport. That’s what got him to a top team. Now he must improve even further to ensure he can stay there.