Russell disagrees with Hamilton on need for new kind of driver in F1

Mercedes driver George Russell says that nationality should not be taken into account when Formula 1 teams consider hiring new talent, in contrast to team-mate Lewis Hamilton’s view that finding a new American to compete in the sport should be a priority.

F1’s latest race took place in Miami, which was making its debut on the calendar with a race on the outskirts of the Miami Dolphins’ Hard Rock Stadium. Hamilton as quick to praise the hosting of the event in the aftermath, noting its party atmosphere and the keenness of a new generation of F1 fans who have come on board in the past few years, particularly since the release of the behind-the-scenes Netflix series Drive to Survive.

Only two Americans have raced in F1 since the highly-rated Michael Andretti’s ill-fated 1993 season at McLaren, with neither Scott Speed nor Alexander Rossi possession the requisite talent to last more than a couple of years each in the top tier of single-seater motorsport. For seven-time world champion Hamilton, F1 should be making it a mission’ to find its next American star in order to capitalise on its new-found popularity Stateside.

‘It doesn’t really surprise me,’ Hamilton says about the lack of American drivers in F1. ‘I think it’s perhaps more a cultural thing, you know, here in the States, it’s the NFL, it’s NBA. It’s NASCAR, IndyCar. And I mean, in my 16 years of coming over here, it’s been such a slow build, trying to bring awareness of the sport.

‘Maybe now’s the time to start focusing on how we can include more people here because it’s such a diverse country. I’m sure there are some amazing drivers here somewhere, as they’ve got so many great sporting talents. So, it’d be a good mission for us to find the next one.’

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