George Russell's biggest challenges with Lewis Hamilton highlighted by ex-world champion

F1 ace George Russell will have two major challenges to overcome in his first year as a full-time Mercedes driver. That is the view of one former world champion, who pointed out that the young Briton's job in 2022 will be far from easy.

Russell has earned his shot with the Silver Arrows after three impressive years in the sport with Williams.

The 23-year-old's results and skills have visibly improved with each passing season, showing his commitment to bettering himself and his ability to do so.

He even already has a podium finish to his name despite driving a car not expected to be able to compete at the front, reaping the rewards from an incredible flying lap in qualifying at the rain-soaked Belgian Grand Prix.

And Russell has already had one chance to prove he can cope with the quicker cars, having taken the Mercedes W11 for a spin in a one-off race for the team in 2020.

He might even have won the Sakhir Grand Prix while filling in for the Covid-stricken Lewis Hamilton, had it not been for a pit stop error and untimely puncture.

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Now, he has the chance to prove those race-winning credentials beyond all doubt in his first full season with Mercedes.

He becomes only the team's fifth full-time driver since it returned to F1 as a manufacturer in 2010, following in the footsteps of Valtteri Bottas and three F1 champions - Hamilton, Nico Rosberg and Michael Schumacher.

Instead of replacing Hamilton, Russell will be racing alongside him - assuming the seven-time world champion decides against retiring from the sport.

Hamilton had Bottas as a reliable team-mate alongside him for his four most recent titles, and so Russell has "huge shoes to fill" in