Former F1 Champion Damon Hill Weighs in on George Russell’s Mistakes
Former Formula 1 champion Damon Hill has weighed in on George Russell’s mistakes during the Canadian Grand Prix, suggesting that the Mercedes driver’s errors stem from pushing too hard to prove himself as the team’s lead driver. Hill, the 1996 Formula 1 champion, believes that Russell’s desire to establish himself as the top dog at Mercedes has led to mistakes in critical moments.
In the Canadian Grand Prix, Russell started from pole position but relinquished the lead to eventual winner Max Verstappen and McLaren’s Lando Norris due to two uncharacteristic errors. Despite regaining the lead briefly, a wide moment at Turn 8 saw Norris reclaim second place, prompting Mercedes boss Toto Wolff to issue a rare radio message to Russell, urging him to “focus.”
Hill, speaking on the Ski F1 podcast, suspects that Wolff’s message may have had a negative impact on Russell’s performance. “I think it can be slightly undermining if you’re getting coached by your team boss over the team radio during the race, being told to focus,” Hill said.
The ex-Williams driver’s mistakes in Montreal, while not as catastrophic as those in Singapore last season or Australia in March, have raised concerns about his ability to handle pressure. Hill believes that Russell’s tendency to make mistakes at critical moments could be resolved if Mercedes showed more faith in him as their lead driver.
With Lewis Hamilton reportedly leaving for Ferrari next season, Russell is in line to become the more experienced name at Mercedes. Hill argues that the team should focus on backing Russell rather than speculating about his teammate for next year. “I think because they’re talking all the time about who his teammate is going to be for next year rather than talking up George… I think Mercedes ought to back him a bit harder, give him a bit more confidence, and then he doesn’t perhaps have to try so hard to prove himself in the race.”
Hill is confident that Russell has the speed, ability, and intelligence to deliver for Mercedes, but needs to be given the comfort and confidence to do so. As Formula 1 news continues to swirl around Russell’s performance, Hill’s words of wisdom may resonate with the Mercedes team.
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