Russell’s arrival a ‘nice twist to the Mercedes fight’

With three years of “non-pressure experience” under his belt at Williams, Juan Pablo Montoya believes George Russell is ready for the challenge that is Lewis Hamilton.

This season, Hamilton has a new team-mate for the first time since 2017.

His perfect ‘wingman’, Valtteri Bottas, has left for Alfa Romeo and in his place is Russell, the young pretender to the throne wanting to make a name for himself.

Having spent three years at Williams where, before 2021, he was almost always at the back of the field, Russell has had the opportunity to hone his skills without any pressure.

Montoya believes he is primed for the challenge that awaits him this season.

He told Vegasinsider: “On one side Lewis wants revenge, but I think having George as a team-mate and with the experience George already has, I think for a lot of people when they see George Russell they will go ‘that’s the guy that’s replaced Lewis a year ago and he did a decent job’, but they don’t realise he has been in Formula 1 for a few years already.

“So he’s got a lot of non-pressure experience. I think being in the environment he’s now in will be a lot harder, and having Lewis as a team-mate will be hard, but at the same time he’s fast. He knows the tracks and has worked with Mercedes before.

“That for me will bring a really nice twist to the Mercedes fight. Who will be ahead between those two?”

Mercedes, though, are asking themselves right now if they will even be in the fight.

Pre-season testing did not go to plan, the Brackley squad said to be paying a price for their zero-pods which are having an impact on their floor that has led to extreme ‘porpoising’.

Montoya is confident Mercedes will get it right and could blow away their rivals with their slimmed-down car