George Russell turns to look over his left shoulder as he sits on the top floor of Mercedes’ glistening motorhome, and points to home. Russell moved to the principality over the winter after a year’s delay, so as to not be distracted as he started out at Mercedes in early 2022. In other words, Russell has proved himself worthy to be considered Hamilton’s heir at the Silver Arrows. ‘I don’t care at all whether Lewis stays or Lewis goes, because I believe I can beat anyone on the grid,’ said Russell, aged 25 and 13 years younger than Hamilton. ‘Not as close as I hoped we would be,’ came Hamilton’s verdict.

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