George Russell Looks to Hamilton's Comeback as Inspiration for 2027

George Russell is taking a page from Lewis Hamilton's playbook, hoping to turn his fortunes around in 2027 after a trying 2026 season. Starting the year as a title favorite, Russell has only managed two victories and finds himself trailing 141 points behind his Mercedes teammate, Kimi Antonelli, who clinched the championship with four races to spare.

Russell has faced numerous technical issues, completing just six weekends without trouble, but acknowledges that Antonelli adapted better to the new 2026 cars. Despite a challenging year, Russell remains optimistic, recalling that even Hamilton faced difficult times during their stint as teammates from 2022 to 2024.

Russell's rise to the works Mercedes team coincided with a shift to ground-effect cars, which clashed with Hamilton's driving style. This allowed Russell to outscore Hamilton twice before Hamilton's move to Ferrari, where he endured a podium-less season. However, Hamilton has found renewed success with the lighter cars of 2026, currently leading his Ferrari teammate Charles Leclerc by 12 points.

Russell reflects on these ups and downs: "I’ve had more good years than bad," he said. "Everyone has their tough times. Even the greatest athletes like Lewis have faced challenges. It's about bouncing back and having the resilience to keep believing in yourself."

Despite praise for his resilience from Mercedes boss Toto Wolff, Russell admits the season's constant setbacks have been exhausting. "I’m just tired of picking myself up repeatedly," he confesses. "It's tough when you’re away from home for weeks and a chance at victory slips away through no fault of your own."

Looking ahead, Russell plans to focus on what he can control and hopes for a smoother ride in the upcoming season. "We’ll work on the controllables and hope the rest sorts itself out," he concluded.