Russell in perfect harmony with Hamilton as they take fight to rivals

Russell told AFP he has a good working relationship with his new Mercedes team-mate Lewis Hamilton and says it is primordial to "recognise our fight is not with each other" but with their rivals. The 24-year-old English driver, in his first full campaign with Mercedes, is preparing for the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix on the back of a promising fourth place in the season-opening Bahrain race last Sunday. Russell replaced Valtteri Bottas alongside Hamilton and whilst the former Williams driver is second in the team's hierarchy there have been several examples of Formula One team-mates falling out.

So far, though, Russell says both he and the seven-time world champion are in perfect harmony. "I think Lewis and I are really working well together," said Russell. "I think we both recognise our fight is not with each other, it is with our rivals.

"We need to work together if we want to win. "I think we've both been probably pleasantly surprised how well we are working as one at the moment. So that is really promising." Hamilton finished third in a race won by Ferrari's Charles Leclerc and Russell said it was important he and his compatriot focus on themselves.

"I think you have to focus on yourself," he said. "You know Formula One is a very unique sport and every driver is different. "Every car is different.

You need to work out what is best for you. "We cannot focus on what Ferrari is doing and how Leclerc is driving, and we need to do this or do that. "You are your own driver.

What may work for me may not work for Lewis. You cannot get caught up in what the other is doing." Russell -- who caught the bug of being a driver when he went karting aged seven -- says he is a glass half full sort of person. "Well, I think this is the