Hamilton 'Had Too Much' On Russell Says Former F1 Team Owner Jordan

Saturday, 10 February 2024 at 10:22

The former owner of the Jordan Grand Prix, Eddie Jordan, compared Lewis Hamilton and George Russell on a recent podcast episode.

Lewis Hamilton and George Russell have been teammates since the beginning of the season in 2022 when the 25-year-old came to Mercedes to replace Valtteri Bottas.

Now that the seven-time World Champion is leaving for Ferrari, Eddie Jordan raises a question over whether Russell can be the driver that delivers the title for Mercedes. He said on a recent episode of Formula for Success podcast:

"Let’s be honest, George Russell has won one grand prix. Do I think he can be a World Champion next year or the year after?"

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In 2022, which was the first season that the two Britons went head to head, Russell managed to beat the 39-year-old in the overall standings of the Drivers' Championship.

"I just think that Lewis had too much on him. When Lewis didn't quite have the car that he wanted at the beginning of the year, George was able to drive around that."

However, Jordan suggested the only reason why the younger teammate was able to beat Hamilton was that he didn't bother due to the uncompetitive nature of the Mercedes car that season.

"Lewis didn’t bother because… not that he didn't bother, but he just didn’t feel that the car was good enough to be able to do the job."

The seven-time World Champion has also been vocal that he didn't like the previous concept of Mercedes's car. He repeatedly stated it didn't suit him and he didn't feel comfortable in it.

Still, he managed to get into grips with it towards the end of 2022, and in 2023, Hamilton beat Russell by five positions in the Championship. Jordan added:

"But, nevertheless, as the season progressed, Lewis got his mojo together. And he made us all look up and say, 'Hmm, maybe Lewis still has it.' And I think that because of the change in fortune, that’s why he went to Ferrari."