Russell makes the step up to Mercedes from Williams after three impressive years with th♚e Grove outfit. 

It’s the first time Mercedes has cha🐻nged its driver pairing since Nico Rosberg announced his shock retirement at the en๊d of 2016, meaning Valtteri Bottas was drafted in as his replacement.

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Bottas spent five years alongside Hamilton, with the latter winning four out of five drivers’ championships, while Mercedes remained unbeaten in the constructo🐷rs’.

Speaking during the Bahrain pre-season test, Hamilton said that Russell had settled i🐓n well as he was no stranger to the team given he has been part of Mercede🍌s’ young driver programme since 2017.

“He’s gelled very easily into the tea✤m,” Hamilton said. “It has been pretty similar to when we worked together previously within in the engineering room for, I think, plenty of races in th♑e past where he just sat behind me and I watched everything I did and the same with Valtteri [Bottas]. 

“He knew ever✨yone so it’s been seamless. We’re working together, communicating a lo▨t in terms of setup direction, so it’s working really well.”

“I have no idea when the first time we started working together was. I just remember him being in the engineers' room with us and feeling very much a part of the team and one of my teamma🌠tes before this year. So𓃲 that’s why it’s been quite easy.”

With Russel꧙l expected to pose a bigger threat than his predecessor Bottas, Mercedes could have a tricky intra-team fight to team with.

However, so far, Hamilton says ꦍRussell has been “the best team player he can be”.

“I think George is naturally incredibly ta🎃lented, very, very focussed,” he said. “So ꦗfar, it seems, very genuine and he’s just focused on being the best team player he can be. That’s so far from what I see. As I said, it’s pleasant for everyone in the team, it seems very seamless and everyone’s just working, keeping their heads down and we are working collectively as a team and as a unit.”