Russell not happy about changed words: 'Have a good relationship with Lewis'

George Russell joined Mercedes to become a world champion in Formula One, but the Briton argues that the picture painted of him in Drive to Survive was not quite accurate.

Battle with Hamilton

The fourth season of Drive to Survive focused on Russell's transfer to Mercedes. It was about the supporting role that Valtteri Bottas had within the team and the possible unrest that Russell could cause. According to Russell, however, the tense atmosphere is not that bad.

"The fact is, Lewis and I have a good relationship. They'll twist my words slightly to blurb a headline, such as me trying to take Lewis' crown away or whatever. But I don't feel like that. I'm in F1 because I want to be World Champion, that's obvious. And if I'm going to be World Champion, I've got to beat everyone – Lewis included," Russell says of his teammate Lewis Hamilton to GQ Magazine.

Russell must prove himself

Still, Russell has no illusions that he will just take the leading role at Mercedes. "I'm an F1 driver who's only scored 20 points in his career from 60 races. Just because I've signed with statistically the greatest team of all time, today that doesn't mean anything. I'm going up against the greatest driver of all time – I need to show and prove to people that they signed me for a reason."

Russell started the 2022 Formula One season shaky with a mistake in qualifying, but ultimately a fourth place finish in the race. In the race, the young Briton was never far from his teammate, fulfilling the German team's expectations.