Russell: Hamilton would have stayed with Mercedes amidst recent form

Red Bull Racing/Red Bull Content Pool

George Russell remains confident in Mercedes' current form and future prospects that he believes his teammate Lewis Hamilton would not have signed with Ferrari.

Seven-time world champion Hamilton, the most successful driver in Formula One history, shocked the racing community when he announced in February that he would be racing for Ferrari next season. Mercedes experienced a winless 2023, marking their first season without a victory since 2011. Hamilton hadn't claimed a podium's top step since 2021, until his triumph at the British Grand Prix earlier in July.

Despite this, Mercedes is now chasing their third consecutive victory at this weekend's Hungarian Grand Prix. Hamilton, 39, achieved a record ninth win at his home British race, with Russell also victorious in Austria.

"I don't think he would have left if the team was performing like this. No way he would have left, for sure not," Russell told Reuters.

"For 2026 the PU [power unit]'s looking really strong and everything we're doing with the fuels is looking great and there's a lot of optimism for us over the next couple of years," he continued. "As tough as these last few years have been, it really feels like we've got the momentum with us now."

Ferrari, although they have secured two wins this year, have seen a decline in their recent form, threatening their hold on second place against a resurgent McLaren.

"I think everybody wants change at some point," Russell said of Hamilton. "He's been here 12 years now, he's achieved so much with the team. I think for him it's exciting to have that change. But of course if the team you're currently with are winning races and everything is looking super great for the future, you just want to be in the fastest car possible and it doesn't matter what colour that is."

Russell, 26, has showcased strong performances with pole positions in Canada and Silverstone, and a fortuitous victory in Austria after a collision between Red Bull's Max Verstappen and McLaren's Lando Norris. The Briton set the fastest lap at Imola, with Hamilton doing so in Monaco and Canada.

"It's been an incredible turnaround. At the start of this year we knew we were taking two steps back with the car to give ourselves the possibility of three steps forward," Russell said. "When you start the season on the back foot you kind of question yourself, have you made the right decision, but the improvements we brought to Montreal have delivered so much performance and lap time.

"We've led the last four races at various points, we've been without doubt the quickest in qualifying and the race in two of those four races. It's really exciting. It's come at a great time for us. It just kind of feels like it's clicking now."

Russell credited Technical Director James Allison, who returned full-time last year, as a pivotal figure in Mercedes' revival.

"It just kind of feels like the Mercedes of years ago," he added. "It's never one person but just having James taking all the ideas and steering in the right direction and empowering the people to go and do it has been great."

Russell, who has outqualified Hamilton at 10 out of 12 Grand Prix this season, although only one point separates them in the standings, said he is performing better than ever.

"I don't think there's ever been more than a tenth or two splitting the two of us and that gives me a lot of confidence," he said. "In a different era I know I'd have been fighting for world championships. Now I hope this is our time to come, from now onwards."

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