How George Russell proved he’s ‘relishing’ Lewis Hamilton’s Mercedes depature during the Chinese Grand Prix

All the talk about the Formula 1 championship battle is about whether either McLaren driver can finally get the better of Max Verstappen.

However, it would be unfair to rule out Mercedes driver George Russell making a bid of his own after the first two race weekends.

The Chinese Grand Prix saw Russell record back-to-back podiums for the first time since the 2022 Italian Grand Prix.

He finished between both Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris in Shanghai but his consistency means he’s only nine points off the British McLaren star.

Russell has been helping guide new teammate Andrea Kimi Antonelli through his first Formula 1 season after the departure of Lewis Hamilton.

Jolyon Palmer was impressed with Russell in China and his qualifying lap that split both McLarens deserves plenty of praise.

He’s fulfilling a new role in the team this year after Hamilton’s move to Ferrari and commentator Alex Jacques believes he’s fully embraced the challenge and made a key change to his approach in 2025.

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George Russell ‘relishing’ Lewis Hamilton’s departure at Ferrari this season

Jacques was asked on the F1 Nation Podcast what’s impressed him about Russell this season and he replied: “He’s relishing being team leader.

“His shoulders are back, he’s photo-bobbing the winners’ photo on the main straight, he’s chirpy on the radio.

“Brilliant performance to put it on the front row. McLaren really shouldn’t have been beaten in that scenario to the front row.

“He knows that it’s not a free hit, but he knows that they’re slightly up the road at the moment, and I think he’s enjoying just chipping away, trying to improve, very, very precise on the radio.

2025 marks George’s best start ever to an @F1 season! 🤩 pic.twitter.com/25tLEb0GeL

— Mercedes-AMG PETRONAS F1 Team (@MercedesAMGF1) March 24, 2025

“Everyone else is speaking in code, plan A, plan B. It’s turning into a one-stop. Bang. There’s your communication.

“In qualifying, chill out, I’m your team leader, [and] I will deliver the pace. He’s running on confidence right now, and who can blame him?

“He’s the team leader at Mercedes’ Formula 1 team, he’s grown into that role. He’s driving the best he ever has, I think, as a genuine level.

“[The] difference is, and there is a key difference, between converting a third place where you should be third and stealing a win, stealing a second. That’s the next thing for him.”

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George Russell backed to score a podium in every F1 race this season

Mercedes have finally built a car which looks much easier to drive than their previous iterations during the ground-effect era.

Russell’s consistency has been impressive to see although the sample size is still too small to suggest that the Silver Arrows could launch a serious title challenge.

Ted Kravitz has backed Russell to score a podium in every race this year as he’s been so impressed with his recent performances.

Russell was pleased for Hamilton after his Sprint Race win in China but will be even happier that he’s pulled out a decent gap on his own teammate.

He outscored the seven-time world champion last season and appears to have stepped up to another level in 2025.

Russell’s tyre management is one of his great strengths as he has proved on several occasions during his career and increasingly this season getting the Pirellis into the right window – especially during qualifying – appears to be a vital skill that could see him spring even more surprises going forward.