Russell pleased with Hamilton praise but insists it has no influence on his career

3c8b4c4b06abe45490c67d29a861b5c98dcf2547

19:49, 28 Jan 2021

Despite driving for Williams again next season, George Russell is not worried about his future in Formula One. While he is happy to have proved himself in the Mercedes at Sakhir last year, and feels honored by Hamilton's praise, Russell also knows something else: Hamilton will not play a defining role in his racing career.

"Lewis is a legend, obviously the greatest and statistically he will be the greatest of all-time by the end of this year, I'm sure," Russell Began in conversation with The Sportsman.

"I've got the Utmost respect for him, for what he does on the track, how he deals with the engineers, and so my respect for him has grown tremendously in the last four years or so."

Shining on Sakhir

It was his raid on the second weekend of racing in Bahrain that convinced many Formula One fans that he was capable of mixing it with the best. Fellow countryman Hamilton also complimented him after the race. However, Russell believes he will not be influenced by this recognition as he knows Hamilton will not have a major impact on his career: “To receive such high praise means a huge amount, but equally I don't let it affect me because Lewis isn't going to make a difference in my career. ”

Russell also looked back on his experience of the weekend in question. He said: “I went into it with the approach that it's not going to break my career but could potentially make it and I think it was a massive stepping stone to, I hope, a long future in F1 to come. I was really grateful for the chance, obviously not in the circumstances I would have wished, but nevertheless with the short notice we had, it gave me a chance to show what I can do from the front."

Don’t miss GPblog in Google

Mark us as a preferred source and our articles will appear more often at the top of Top Stories.

Add as a preferred / source on Google

Brawn thinks in solutions: 'What I want to see are races with a different format'

McLaren give an insight into how they run their factory during the pandemic

Formula 1 confirms Las Vegas Grand Prix will stay on the calendar through 2037

Breaking News•

Jun 05, 00:00

•Tim Kraaij

by Tim Kraaij

Hamilton's former rival casts doubt on eight title pursuit: 'The struggles are still real'

F1 News•

Jun 04, 23:00

•Tobia Elia

by Tobia Elia

F1 Today | Hamilton steals the spotlight, Norris and Leclerc already face FIA stewards

F1 News•

Jun 04, 22:01

•Henry Eccles

by Henry Eccles

In Monaco, one thing is clear: Antonelli really isn't a rookie anymore

Features•

Jun 04, 20:53

•Ludo van Denderen

by Ludo van Denderen

Antonelli and Russell 'free to race' at Monaco GP: 'You can't put a leash on us'

F1 News•

Jun 04, 20:34

•Henry Eccles

by Henry Eccles

leclerc-ferrari-hamilton-miami-sprint-jpg

Leclerc rejects Hamilton's Ferrari simulator approach ahead of Monaco GP

F1 News•

Jun 04, 19:55

•Henry Eccles

by Henry Eccles

Kimi Antonelli praises 'mind-blowing' MotoGP riders: 'They're more nuts than us!'

MotoGP•

Jun 04, 19:30

•Andrew McLarney

by Andrew McLarney

Norris and Leclerc among drivers concerned for 22-car Monaco GP Qualifying

F1 News•

Jun 04, 19:29

•Henry Eccles

by Henry Eccles

Pos.	Driver	Team	Points
1	Kimi Antonelli Kimi Antonelli	MercedesMER	131
2	George Russell George Russell	MercedesMER	88
3	Charles Leclerc Charles Leclerc	FerrariFER	75
4	Lewis Hamilton Lewis Hamilton	FerrariFER	72
5	Lando Norris Lando Norris	McLarenMCL	58
6	Oscar Piastri Oscar Piastri	McLarenMCL	48
7	Max Verstappen Max Verstappen	Red Bull RacingRBR	43
8	Pierre Gasly Pierre Gasly	AlpineALP	20
9	Oliver Bearman Oliver Bearman	HaasHAA	18
10	Liam Lawson Liam Lawson	Racing BullsRCB	16
11	Franco Colapinto Franco Colapinto	AlpineALP	15
12	Isack Hadjar Isack Hadjar	Red Bull RacingRBR	14
13	Carlos Sainz Carlos Sainz	WilliamsWIL	6
14	Arvid Lindblad Arvid Lindblad	Racing BullsRCB	5
15	Gabriel Bortoleto Gabriel Bortoleto	AudiAUD	2
16	Esteban Ocon Esteban Ocon	HaasHAA	1
17	Alexander Albon Alexander Albon	WilliamsWIL	1
18	Nico Hulkenberg Nico Hulkenberg	AudiAUD	0
19	Valtteri Bottas Valtteri Bottas	CadillacCAD	0
20	Sergio Perez Sergio Perez	CadillacCAD	0
21	Lance Stroll Lance Stroll	Aston MartinAST	0
22	Fernando Alonso Fernando Alonso	Aston MartinAST	0

Russell pleased with Hamilton praise but insists it has no influence on his career

Shining on Sakhir

Don’t miss GPblog in Google

Brawn thinks in solutions: 'What I want to see are races with a different format'

McLaren give an insight into how they run their factory during the pandemic

Formula 1 confirms Las Vegas Grand Prix will stay on the calendar through 2037

Hamilton's former rival casts doubt on eight title pursuit: 'The struggles are still real'

F1 Today | Hamilton steals the spotlight, Norris and Leclerc already face FIA stewards

In Monaco, one thing is clear: Antonelli really isn't a rookie anymore

Antonelli and Russell 'free to race' at Monaco GP: 'You can't put a leash on us'

Leclerc rejects Hamilton's Ferrari simulator approach ahead of Monaco GP

Kimi Antonelli praises 'mind-blowing' MotoGP riders: 'They're more nuts than us!'

Norris and Leclerc among drivers concerned for 22-car Monaco GP Qualifying

Formula 1 confirms Las Vegas Grand Prix will stay on the calendar through 2037

Hamilton's former rival casts doubt on eight title pursuit: 'The struggles are still real'

F1 Today | Hamilton steals the spotlight, Norris and Leclerc already face FIA stewards

In Monaco, one thing is clear: Antonelli really isn't a rookie anymore

Popular on GPBlog

Hamilton steals Monaco spotlight with ultra-rare Ducati arrival

Verstappen sounds alarm as Ocon admits: "At today's prices I would not be here"

The F1 drivers who live in Monaco and why they choose to live there

Norris and Leclerc called to stewards before action has even begun in Monaco

Season

Brawn thinks in solutions: 'What I want to see are races with a different format'

McLaren give an insight into how they run their factory during the pandemic