Starting next year, Lewis Hamilton will have a new teammate at Mercedes. George Russell will take the place of Valtteri Bottas. The Italian side of Sky Sports spoke to Hamilton about the changes for next year and his new teammate.
“There is exceptional talent in the new generation. It’s something exciting for the sport. It’s great for me, for Bottas, for Vettel. For me, it’s fun because I can ask myself ‘How can I meet the challenge of these guys?'”, Hamilton says in the interview.
“I’m much older. They [the new generation] are not afraid of anything. They are in top form and I love to see them drive. I hope I can still earn my place here, that I can respond to them as best I can. That’s what I’m focused on.”
About his age, Hamilton has no further worries compared to the younger generation. “To be honest, I’m not worried about it. If we look at next year, the performance of the cars will probably be closer. The races will be more intense, so driving skills will play a big role. That’s why I want to stay in F1, because it will really be a chance to show my skills.”
Indeed, the Briton has been driving in Formula 1 since 2007, giving him plenty of experience. “I think my mind can help the team move forward, because I know what I need from the car and where the performance needs to go. I hope to be important in that sense and be part of the growth of Russell, who will be next to me. He is already very fast, but he will definitely learn from me because I have been in F1 longer. I can learn from him as well. I have no problem learning from a younger person.”
