George Russell explains what he learned from Lewis Hamilton about leadership at Mercedes. Russell praises Hamilton’s leadership and influence during tough times at Mercedes.

George Russell has praised his former team-mate Lewis Hamilton, describing him as “a true leader” and highlighting the lessons he learned while sharing the Mercedes garage with the seven-time Formula 1 world champion.

Russell learning from Hamilton

Between 2022 and 2024, George Russell and Lewis Hamilton shared the Mercedes garage during two very different phases of their respective careers. George Russell was still searching for his first Grand Prix victory, while Lewis Hamilton had already secured seven Formula 1 world titles and was firmly established as one of the most successful drivers in the history of the sport.

In an interview with Maxim magazine, George Russell spoke about his arrival at such a prestigious team and the mindset he adopted in his early days at Mercedes: “When I arrived at Mercedes, I had three years of Formula 1 experience, but I was new to the team, so I wanted to use my ears more than my mouth. I wanted to absorb as much information as possible and observe how Lewis managed his work. Over time, I gained more confidence in myself and the team started to listen to me.”

The example set by Lewis

Russell’s account of what he learned by working alongside Hamilton is particularly revealing. The British driver explained that the most important lesson was not only technical, but human and motivational: “I think the most important thing I learned from him was the way he kept the team’s morale high during difficult moments. He was a true leader within the team and a very hard worker. He was the first to arrive and the last to leave, and he set the standard for everyone else in the team,” George Russell admitted.

According to Russell, Hamilton’s approach went far beyond what was visible from the outside, showing how leadership inside a Formula 1 team can make a real difference, especially during challenging seasons.

When Hamilton decided to move to Ferrari, George Russell effectively inherited a leadership role within Mercedes: “Now we are in a process of rebuilding the team to return to winning. I’ve learned that a driver’s job is much more than guiding development with our feedback and the sensations we feel in the car. We also have to lift the team’s morale in difficult moments and motivate the 2,500 people who work for the team. If you can get everyone pushing in the same direction, you will only benefit from it.”

George Russell’s words underline how Lewis Hamilton’s influence at Mercedes extended well beyond results on track, leaving a lasting impression on the team and on the drivers who worked alongside him.