Confidence in Russell: 'He can keep Hamilton behind in 2023'

George Russell managed to beat teammate Lewis Hamilton in the Drivers' Championship in 2022. Mika Hakkinen thinks the young Brit can pull this off again next season.

Russell has had an impressive debut year at Mercedes. The British driver managed to secure the team's only pole position and victory in 2022 and finished fourth in the standings with a 35-point lead over Hamilton.

Although the W13 suffered a lot of porpoising and other problems, Russell managed to adapt well. The Mercedes driver can also count on the support of two-time World Champion Hakkinen next season.

"If he can keep with that experience what he has in Mercedes, and experience what he has in Formula 1 in general, he can keep Lewis behind. It’s really impressive. Because Lewis is incredible. Incredible personality, incredible driver. So if George can go for it, then I think England can look like ‘Wow, what a driver we have.’,” Hakkinen said in conversation with Top Gear.

Mercedes will launch the new car on 15 February. The team hopes to fight for the title again in 2023 with Russell and Hamilton. "I am confident he has all the potential to be a great driver, potential becoming a world champion," Hakkinen added.