Jenson Button outlines ‘very different’ challenge facing Mercedes star George Russell next season

George Russell is enjoying a stronger end to his 2024 season after struggling in the second half of the season with Mercedes.

The Briton achieved a race win at Austria earlier in the season while also crossing the line in first at Spa Francorchamps, but was later disqualified due to excessive plank wear.

It took Mercedes a while to recapture their summer form, having made upgrades to their car during the US Grand Prix that appeared to impact their car balance.

Adjustments were made in the weeks between Sao Paulo and Las Vegas, with Mercedes coming out on top around the street circuit by going fastest in every session and Russell achieving his third victory with a lights-to-flag victory.

Russell’s impressive form continued in Qatar, where he inherited pole after an appeal to the stewards regarding Max Verstappen’s driving in qualifying. Teammate Lewis Hamilton was a further half a second off his best time and ended up finishing the race in P12, while Russell dropped to fourth after a series of mishaps.

Hamilton will be leaving the team to join Ferrari next season, but that does not make things easier for Russell according to 2009 World Champion Jenson Button when speaking on Sky Sports.

George Russell faces challenge from Andrea Kimi Antonelli

Andrea Kimi Antonelli is set to replace Hamilton next season, in what is a highly anticipated move for the 18-year-old to Mercedes.

It will be the first time Mercedes’ driver lineup will not feature a World Champion, while Russell will be taking the role as team leader as the experienced driver.

Button expects Antonelli will be out to prove himself in his first races, which could make things difficult for Russell.

“Next year is a very, very different role [for Russell]. I think he would be a leader but he’s also got in the back of his mind that ‘There is this young kid coming up and if he beats me in Q1, it will feel like a failure’,” said Button.

“So it’s a tricky one for a racing driver but I think he’s confident enough to understand that Kimi is going to be a challenge.”

George Russell head-to-head with Lewis Hamilton

In the three seasons that he has spent alongside Hamilton at Mercedes, Russell looks set to beat him 2-1 in terms of points scored and being out-qualified.

Russell beat Hamilton in his debut season, making him just the third driver in the seven-time World Champion’s career to achieve that feat.

He looks set to achieve the same feat this season having scored 235 points compared to Hamilton’s 211 points in the Drivers’ Championship.

Russell has also out-qualified Hamilton 18-5 this season, leading to questions over whether the seven-time World Champion still has the edge to compete at the top level.