Lewis Hamilton says he aims to have a positive influence on new teammate George Russell, and hopes to see him become Britain's next world champion.

Next season sees Lewis Hamilton partnered with his third 'new' teammate since joining Mercedes in 2013.

Following the 'difficult' partnership with Nico Rosberg, Valtteri Bottas has been a far more obliging teammate, which probably explains why Hamilton was so keen to keep him.

The arrival of Russell however is sure to change the status quo at Brackley, for while the youngster will be keen to assert himself from the outset, he is entering the lair of Lewis, the man who has won successive constructors' titles for the German team and (thus far) six drivers' titles.

"You've seen George is hugely respectful," says Hamilton. "He's a super-talented young man and I think there's a huge amount of respect already going in and we've got a nice balance at the moment.

"But he's going to want to be quick," he continues, "he's going to want to show up and win, and do all those things that you do when you enter a new role.

"I remember in 2007 when I went up against Alonso. Of course I wanted to beat him at the first race, so I appreciate and expect George to have that mentality, otherwise he's not a winner, you know?

"But I'm in a different place," he insists. "I really want to see him succeed.

"There's going to be a point where I don't continue in this sport," he adds, "and, you know, he's my team-mate and he's going to be the next Brit that I want to see win a world championship.

"So while we are going to be competing and I want to win on track, I really hope I can have a positive influence on how he conducts himself within the team, whether it's the time he commits to engineering or how he churns through the data or even just how he drives on track."

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READERS COMMENTS

1. Posted by kenji, 29/11/2021 23:48

"@ BrightonCorgi....Who knows? I'd like to say 'who cares' but,IMO, Hamilton will hang on for as long as is realistically possible. He plays to the theatre audience and so long as its there so will he be. Then again Mercedes will be anxious to get another driver in place so that when and if Hamilton ups stakes and snatches his rent Russell will step in. From my point of view it's all speculation ATM but something will happen sooner rather than later. Time waits for no mere mortals. I guess also that just how the new cars perform next year will also be a major contributing factor. I expect Mercedes to be leading the field, if not first up, certainly by half way through the season. Despite the cost cap they are a formidable force of engineering expertise and that has been demonstrated many times."

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2. Posted by BrightonCorgi, 29/11/2021 19:14

"So, is next season possibly going to be Hamilton's last?"

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3. Posted by kenji, 29/11/2021 0:01

"@ Defiant...of course Russell will be fast considering what he has been given to drive. That is an obvious first step on the ladder. As for kicking Hamilton's backside well I think that Wolff will have a say in that if it should become a threat. Russell was even admonished for daring to tackle a slower Mercedes and he was a Williams driver!! How did that come to pass the 'pub test'? Mercedes have devoted massive/humungous sums in the Hamilton Express and they will be reluctant to put that investment under any duress so long as Hamilton is retained. It's my guess that when Hamilton decides to bow out that Russell will be fully backed as the new 'messiah' and much hoo har will be programmed ad nauseum regarding the chimerical handing over 'the baton.' That's the current state of my opinions looking forward but I'm sure there will be a whole of of differing ideas...."

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4. Posted by Defiant, 28/11/2021 17:20

"I for one are hoping that Russell is as fast as we all hope he is. I’d love for him to kick sneer Hammy’s backside, along with everyone else’s. "

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5. Posted by kenji, 28/11/2021 11:32

"@ Wokingchap...so voicing an alternative critique/opinion is deemed worthy of your labelling those people with a derogatory descriptor. Dissenting opinion and critique is the cornerstone of a free society and democracy. The very fact that you are attempting to cancel those comments says a great deal. You need to look further and deeper into the substance of what was said before dismissing other's opinions in such a cavalier and pedestrian manner."

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6. Posted by Wokingchap, 28/11/2021 9:26

"It's obvious the haters were going to be out in force on this one."

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7. Posted by jcr, 28/11/2021 1:03

"Wonder if George will ever be invited to the conferences in the Wolff kitchen as Sir Hammi Was ???"

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8. Posted by Endre, 27/11/2021 22:15

"LOL this most be the joke of the century. If anyone can have a positive influence here that IS George and not only on Hamilton but on the entire toxic environment that is Mercedes. Hopefully they won't be able to corrupt him. "

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9. Posted by jcr, 27/11/2021 15:48

"Just a PC way of saying, "I.ll Put Manners on Him""

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10. Posted by kenji, 27/11/2021 13:15

"Just how patronising can one person possibly get? The fix is in or if not, it's about to be. If Russell is anywhere as good as all the [ Brit. ] pundits claim then he needs to go for it and not be snowed by all the flim flam especially about being 'hugely respectful'. The sheer chutzpah. Russell's got nothing to lose as Wolff would not be game to call him out, not this early anyway but I fear that Wolff has most likely covered the bases anyway, most likely contained in the contract under 'team orders'. Despite this, hopefully Mercedes will not be able to run away with the series given that we have new cars due and maybe Ferrari or McLaren can mount a bigger challenge. One can live in hope...."

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Hamilton hopes to have positive influence on Russell

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