Hamilton worries Mercedes? Russell admits: “He’s a major threat”
George Russell was among the headline acts during the Austrian Grand Prix press conference, arriving at Spielberg on the back of a strong second-place finish in Barcelona. After disappointing results in Canada and Monaco, the Mercedes driver returned to the podium, reducing the gap to teammate and championship leader Kimi Antonelli, who retired at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya with only a few laps remaining.
Lewis Hamilton’s dominant victory in Spain has completely reshaped the championship conversation, raising an important question throughout the Formula 1 paddock: has the seven-time world champion become a genuine title contender once again?
Russell believes the answer is clear.
“It’s great to see Lewis back doing what he does best. I think it shows just how demanding Formula 1 really is. The journey, the cars, the power units—everything has to come together perfectly, otherwise you simply can’t get the maximum out of yourself. People were saying he was finished, but this proves he never was. He just wasn’t able to perform at his best,” George Russell said.
When asked whether Lewis Hamilton could become a serious championship threat, the Mercedes driver left little room for doubt.
“Obviously, he’s a huge threat to us, absolutely. Yes, Kimi is the driver leading the championship at the moment thanks to his consistency and the margin he has built up, but Lewis and Ferrari are coming, and that’s something we have to take seriously and evaluate.”
Rather than feeling intimidated by the prospect of more drivers joining the title battle, George Russell welcomed the increased competition.
“It excites me—it doesn’t make me nervous. As a Formula 1 driver, it’s great to see the championship fight expanding beyond just two drivers. I can’t wait to get back on track and continue the battle,” he concluded.
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