Monthly Archives: January 2022

Williams boss ‘doesn’t care’ if Lewis Hamilton retires but wants to see former driver George Russell beat him at Mercedes

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Williams F1’s team principal has said he ‘doesn’t care’ if Lewis Hamilton decides to retire, but only hopes he stays so that new Mercedes teammate George Russell can beat the seven-time champion.

Speculation is rife over a potential early retirement for 37-year-old Hamilton, who hasn’t been heard from since he lost the 2021 world title in controversial fashion.


Hamilton lost the title on the final lap of the final race of the season to Verstappen

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Clearly still hurting, Hamilton has stepped away from the spotlight and his manager Wolff has provoked retirement claims

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Hamilton was cruising towards victory in the Abu Dhabi title decider before a late and unprecedented safety car call allowed rival Max Verstappen to catch and pass the Brit.

The Mercedes driver hasn’t spoken publicly since the title loss, leading to speculation that he might leave the sport, which was exacerbated by comments from team boss Toto Wolff.

Should Hamilton compete in 2022, he will have a new teammate for the first time in five years in the shape of former GP3 and F2 champion Russell, who’s earned rave reviews during his three years in F1 with Williams.

The 23-year-old has continually outperformed what has been the slowest car on the grid for much of his time at Williams, twice qualifying second on the grid.


Russell has been on a high this season, and looks to continue it on with Mercedes

Handout – Getty


Russell has earned the respect of Hamilton and the rest of the grid with some amazing performances

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And his team manager for the latter stages of his Williams career, Jost Capito, has said he will be disappointed if Russell doesn’t have the chance to beat Hamilton.

“I don’t care about it, I don’t really care if [Hamilton] drives or not,” Capito told RTL News.

“It doesn’t matter at all, it really doesn’t matter. 

“It’s always said that there aren’t enough places for young drivers and then I think if someone has been world champion seven times, he’s actually done enough and could make room for a boy, why not?


Capito doesn’t sound too happy about Hamilton’s decision making

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Hamilton was knighted days after his loss, but hasn’t been heard from since

AFP

“As far as I’m concerned, Hamilton should continue, otherwise it would be bad for George, because then he couldn’t beat him and I think he would like to beat him.”

Norfolk-born Russell put in one of the best laps of the season when he qualified on the front row at the Belgian Grand Prix, and later took a default second place when the race was cancelled due to heavy rain.

The Brit also stunned the grid in 2020 when he replaced a Covid-striken Hamilton at the Sakhir Grand Prix, and mate lightwork of teammate Valtteri Bottas before having his race ruined by tyre drama.

Capito believes Russell is far from a driver boasting potential anymore, and ready to compete due to his strong mentality.


Russell’s lap at Spa was one of the best ever seen

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And he should now be able to partner Hamilton if he returns

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“Russell absolutely has world champion potential,” Capito said. “He’s no longer a rough diamond, but a partially cut diamond.

“[He is] a bit removed from the potential he can have, he can certainly develop and improve again at Mercedes.

“Also from his strong nerves, he doesn’t let himself get intimidated, even if he wasn’t at the same level at the beginning of the season.

“He is nervously so strong that he develops, grows with the challenge and does not break.


Russell has made the podium in a car incomparable to Hamilton’s and Verstappen’s, making Capito think he can compete with both

AFP

Capito also backs his former driver against reigning world champion Max Verstappen, suggesting that a three-way title fight might be in the offing this year.

“Russel is a completely different character [to Verstappen]” he explained.

“In Formula 1 you don’t need the same character to be fast. I think he can fight with Max Verstappen, I’m sure of that.”

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Source: TalkSport.com Motorsport