After months of speculation, Mercedes finally confirmed the news that Russell is replacing Valtteri Bottas with the World Champions. But the former World Champion and Ex-Mercedes driver Nico Rosberg thinks George Russell’s arrival at Mercedes next year will put Lewis Hamilton in a no-win situation.
Russell will be keen to make an immediate impression and Rosberg, who was Hamilton’s team-mate from 2013 until his retirement in 2016, believes the situation spells danger for the seven-time World champion.
That is because even if Hamilton puts the young pretender in his place, it is only what would be expected given their vast disparities in experience and achievements.
“The positive [for Russell] is he has nothing to lose and everything to gain because you’re up against the best of all time,” said Rosberg on Sky F1.
“Nobody expects you to destroy him but if you manage to, you’ll be the absolute biggest hero of all time.
“That’s what makes it so difficult for Lewis because he’s got this young gun who’s never won anything coming in, so Lewis can only lose actually.
“He’s the greatest, and imagine this young gun starts to beat him…that’s a really uncomfortable situation to be in.”
Rosberg’s friendship and working relationship with Hamilton famously disintegrated after a series of on-track clashes, with the 36-year-old German saying it became “very much on the limit of all things” before he walked away from the sport after becoming World Champion in 2016.
He thinks Russell will face an early dilemma of how feisty to be if the duo find themselves in close proximity when racing next season in the same car.
“The challenge for George is also in that first wheel-to-wheel battle,” added the German. “Does he yield or does he stick in there?
“That’s so difficult because if he sticks in there and [a collision] is entirely his fault, that would be a disastrous start to his time at Mercedes.
“But if he sticks in there and it’s not his fault and more Lewis’ fault, it would be a giant boost for the confidence and to really calm Lewis, so it’s such a difficult one to manage.
“It’s such a fine line. Valtteri has been too conservative throughout five years, so he’s got it a bit wrong. There are other examples of being a bit too aggressive, so it’s such a fine line.”
