Russell on ‘surreal’ partnership with a ‘super hero’

George Russell saw Lewis Hamilton as a “super hero” when he first met him back when he was 10 years old, now he’s his Mercedes team-mate.

After years of dreaming of competing for a F1 World title, Russell finds him not quite in pole position but definitely close to the front of the grid.

The Briton is the newest arrival at Mercedes, following in the footsteps of Michael Schumacher, Nico Rosberg, Valtteri Bottas and Hamilton, two of four having won World titles with the Brackley squad.

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For Russell it is a “surreal” move, the 24-year-old having first met Hamilton when he was just 10 years old.

Now that driver who was once a “super hero” to him is his team-mate.

“It is definitely surreal,” he said at the launch of Mercedes’ W13.

“We have all seen the photo of Lewis and I when I was 10 years old, we have both changed quite a lot since then.

“I was a young kid aspiring to reach Formula 1 and Lewis was World Champion at the time, and a super hero to me. You see these incredible people and you don’t think they are human.

“And now, grown up and having the opportunity to race alongside Lewis is a really privilege because I’ve got such a great opportunity to learn and see how the best does it.”

How epic was this moment, Team! pic.twitter.com/NDJlD0mcoh

— Mercedes-AMG PETRONAS F1 Team (@MercedesAMGF1) February 18, 2022

Russell arrived on the Formula 1 grid in 2019, bagging a Williams race seat with the help of Mercedes in the wake of