Face-off at Mercedes
Last season, with the car woefully off the pace and both drivers grinding out results while bouncing about like pinballs, Lewis Hamilton and George Russell made companionable teammates. This year, with Mercedes intent on ultimately producing a more competitive ride capable of winning races, tension between the pair is likely to ratchet up. Russell had a superb debut for Mercedes in 2022, becoming only the third teammate to beat Hamilton over a season, and can expect to only be better this year. Nor is he intimidated or shy of fighting his corner against the seven-times champion, as he proved in winning in Brazil last year. That said, Hamilton is motivated like never before, targeting an eighth title and more victories with the same fierce determination that has defined his career. Immovable object and unstoppable force, then. If there is to be a changing of the guard at Mercedes it will not be conducted lightly. Probably the most competitive and exciting driver pairing on the grid.
