George Russell has described former Mercedes team-mate Lewis Hamilton as "a big threat" in the Formula 1 championship after Hamilton secured his first victory as a Ferrari driver at the Barcelona-Catalunya Grand Prix. The seven-time world champion now sits 41 points behind championship leader Kimi Antonelli, with Russell a further nine points adrift in third.
Mercedes Vulnerable as Ferrari Introduces Engine Upgrade
Ferrari is set to debut its first engine upgrade of the season at the Austrian Grand Prix this weekend, a development that Russell acknowledged puts Mercedes on the back foot. Speaking to reporters on Thursday, the Mercedes driver said: "For sure, [Hamilton] is a big threat, Ferrari are a huge threat. Kimi is still very much the driver out front and is performing really incredibly and consistently, but Ferrari feel like they're coming and Lewis is at the forefront of that."
Russell, who partnered Hamilton at Mercedes for three seasons, admitted he is pleased to see his former team-mate enjoying success again, even if it may hinder his own title ambitions. "It's great to see Lewis back doing what he does best," Russell said. "It shows how challenging Formula 1 is because the cars, the tyres, the power units are so complex. Everything needs to click and, if one thing isn't clicking, you can't get the most out of yourself."
Hamilton's Resurgence Silences Critics
Russell noted that Hamilton had been written off by some following a difficult 2024 season alongside him at Mercedes. "People were writing him off last year, or even the year we were team-mates in '24. 'Is he too old? Is he this? Is he that?' And then he goes and he's been smashing it for the last four or five races. It just shows that you don't forget how to drive overnight."
Hamilton's improvement has been attributed to a more settled environment within Ferrari. He requested significant changes to his engineering staff over the winter, including a switch from race engineer Riccardo Adami to Carlo Santi, who worked with Hamilton during pre-season and the early rounds. Initially considered a temporary arrangement, Santi's role has been extended. A Ferrari spokesperson confirmed: "Carlo and Lewis are working pretty well together and there's no plan to replace him."
Title Race Heats Up
Hamilton's victory in Barcelona ended Ferrari's win drought dating back to 2024 and injected fresh momentum into the championship. With 41 points separating the top three, the Austrian Grand Prix could prove pivotal. Russell, meanwhile, remains focused on closing the gap but acknowledges the growing threat from his former team-mate and Ferrari's technical progress.
