George Russell drew 11-11 with Mercedes teammate Lewis Hamilton, who holds the record for most poles in history, in F1 2023 qualifying, but Russell asked, “Who celebrates a draw?”
Russell’s second season in Mercedes colours was alongside seven-time World Champion teammate Hamilton, with Russell having set a high standard for himself by outscoring F1’s most successful driver in his first season.
Russell could not repeat the trick this time around, Hamilton returning somewhat to form as he extracted six podium finishes from the troublesome W14, securing P3 in the Drivers’ Championship to Russell’s P8, 59 points ahead of his highly-rated team-mate.
Russell did though match Hamilton’s efforts over one lap, an 11-11 tie, which is no small feat considering Hamilton holds the record for most pole positions in F1 history, collecting his 104th and most recent at the 2023 Hungarian Grand Prix.
However, Channel 4 presenter Steve Jones was more excited about that draw than Russell was.
Put to him that this is something to be proud of, Russell replied: “I don’t really know to be honest.”
As Jones replied: “I’d be chuffed with that”, Russell responded: “Nobody celebrates a draw, do they?”
Russell would expand on his reluctance to celebrate in what he branded a “strange” season for himself and the team.
The final qualifying of F1 2023 in Abu Dhabi, where Hamilton missed the cut for Q3 for the second weekend running, while Russell put his W14 P4 on the grid, was a fresh example of a gulf between the Mercedes drivers in one-lap performance either way.
Russell acknowledged that this gap has swung each way throughout the season, clearly in equal fashion, which he claimed proves just how tricky the W14 was to keep in its working window.
“But it’s Lewis Hamilton!” Jones exclaimed, and Russell responded, “It’s been a strange season.” I felt great on Saturday afternoons and rediscovered my groove after struggling a little bit earlier in the season.
“But this car is just so difficult to drive, and you said we’re 11-all, but we never go at the same pace.” Either I’m four or five tenths ahead, or he’s four or five tenths ahead, which just goes to show how difficult the car and tires are.”
Toto Wolff, the CEO of Mercedes, has promised a new design for the W15 challenger as the eight-time Constructors’ Champion looks to reclaim the title from Red Bull in F1 2024.
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