HARD TRUTH:George Russell told Lewis Hamilton that ‘he didn’t want him at Mercedes’ after Hamilton’s British GP victory.
Former F1 team boss Peter Windsor believes that Lewis Hamilton’s victory at the British Grand Prix will be particularly poignant given the turbulent past few years, including the addition of George Russell to the team. Reflecting on Hamilton’s British GP win on his YouTube channel, Windsor said, “I think this race will be remembered because it was two and a half years since Abu Dhabi 2021. Since everything that happened on that day when that eighth world championship was snatched from Lewis effectively on the last lap due to a mistake made by the race director, and it’s about everything that’s happened in Lewis’s life since then,” he added, mentioning Hamilton’s unanticipated teammate George Russell and the uncompetitive Mercedes.
Hamilton’s triumph at the British Grand Prix marked his first win since his last victory over two years ago. Despite George Russell starting on pole and Lando Norris briefly leading, it was Hamilton who held firm against relentless pressure to claim victory, ending his 945-day absence from the winner’s circle.
Following Hamilton’s move to Ferrari and Russell’s rising stature, rumors of tension between the two Mercedes teammates emerged, especially after Hamilton hinted at potential favoritism towards Russell. However, Russell insisted they receive equal treatment within the team. After his win, Hamilton expressed heartfelt gratitude, saying, “I wanted to win this so much for them because I love them and appreciate them so much. All the hard work they put in over these years. I’m forever grateful to everyone at Mercedes and all our partners,” before thanking the fans.
Reflecting on his journey, Hamilton continued, “There have definitely been days between 2021 and here where I didn’t feel like I was good enough or I was going to get back to where I am today. But the important thing is I had great people around me, continuing to support me. My team, every time I turned up and saw them putting in the effort that really encouraged me to do the same thing.” He also acknowledged his supporters: “Otherwise, my fans, when I see them around the world, they have been so supportive. So a big, big thank you to everybody.”
Hamilton will leave Mercedes after an 11-year tenure and join Ferrari next year.
