George Russell has clarified the stories doing round around relation with Lewis Hamilton, while he adds that he hasn’t thought of future beyond Mercedes.
Over the few weeks between Bahrain and Imola, stories of Mercedes’ Hamilton not being on speaking terms with Williams’ Russell started doing rounds, which was based on the latter’s comments regarding him not talking to the former after the 2020 Sakhir event.
Toto Wolff was asked about the same, if there is any rift, but the Austrian cleared that he heard nothing. When asked in the press conference in Imola, Russell clarified the comments he made, which he noted that was for just after the race reaction.
Russell added that his relation with Hamilton has been the same since he started his F1 career. “I think the question towards me was did you speak to Lewis after Bahrain, and no, we didn’t speak, as we wouldn’t speak after any other race,” he said.
“We are racing against each other. If we see each other in the paddock, we would speak. We’ve seen each other this year, a little fist bump along the way, and that’s the same as it’s been since 2019 and last year before the Bahrain Grand Prix.
“My relationship towards Lewis is the same as it is with a lot of the drivers up and down the paddock, which is completely fine. So there’s no hard feelings and no issues between myself and Lewis,” summed up Russell, as he then spoke about his Mercedes contract.
When asked if he has given any thoughts of signing with any F1 team beyond Mercedes for 2022, if the German outfit doesn’t give him a drive, Russell noted that for now he hasn’t had the thought in his mind. He is not even talking with any other outfits.
“Mercedes has been loyal to me since, so that isn’t even crossing my mind at the moment,” started Russell. “They have their faith in me, I have my faith in them, and time will tell. It’s been clear since day one since 2016 when I signed for Mercedes.
“My thing is to do the job on the track and the opportunities will come, and that has been the case through GP3, F2, and then with my career in Formula 1. Obviously we signed the three-year deal [with Williams] back in 2018. Let’s wait and see. At the moment, that thought hasn’t even crossed my mind,” summed up Russell.
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