George Russell is assured issues will begin to “click on” for Lewis Hamilton sooner or later, however admitted it’s “not good” to see his former teammate struggling at Ferrari.
Hamilton’s underwhelming begin to life at Ferrari has been a significant speaking level within the 2025 Components 1 season, with the seven-time world champion failing to fulfill the lofty expectations positioned on him.
Whereas his victory within the dash race in China was a significant spotlight, he has managed only one end inside the highest 5 within the 5 grands prix to this point.
Mercedes driver Russell mentioned Hamilton is “not having fun with” racing for Ferrari in the meanwhile on account of his aggressive struggles, however feels he has what it takes to show issues round.
“He is a champion, he is a winner, and he is ready the place he cannot obtain that,” Russell was quoted by the BBC. “And it isn’t straightforward to just accept. If he was beaming with an enormous smile, you would be questioning why he is beaming with an enormous smile.
“I’ve received a variety of respect for him and I like him personally. It is not good to see someone who’s not having fun with it.
“However why ought to he be having fun with it? As a result of for him it isn’t concerning the cash, it is concerning the outcomes. And it isn’t clicking for him in the meanwhile, however I am positive it’ll click on at one level.”
Russell mentioned Hamilton’s gradual adaptation to the Ferrari exhibits how robust it’s to achieve F1.
“Typically you may simply soar in and it clicks, and it is simple,” Russell mentioned. “Different occasions, it does not click on.
“The second seat at Purple Bull [alongside Max Verstappen], why has that by no means labored out? It is as a result of Components 1’s bloody troublesome.
“You realize, you are going up in opposition to the perfect drivers on this planet and Charles [Leclerc] is without doubt one of the greatest on this planet, in a crew that he is been for his entire profession, in a automotive that he is aware of precisely tips on how to get probably the most out of.”
The SF-25 has often been the third or the fourth-quickest automotive this yr, with even Charles Leclerc bagging only one podium in a Sunday race to this point.
Nonetheless, with 47 factors, Leclerc has comprehensively outperformed his teammate Hamilton, who logged simply 31 factors between Australia and Saudi Arabia.
Russell feels you will need to spotlight how spectacular the Monegasque driver has been in 2025, although a lot of the main target at Ferrari has been on its new star signing Hamilton.
“Charles has additionally gone a bit beneath the radar this yr,” he mentioned. “He is having an immense season. He had a robust race in China with a damaged entrance wing. He had a super-strong race in Bahrain and arguably the protection automotive stopped him from beating me. He might have had three podiums this season.
“Charles has been doing a mega job and also you’d even be questioning Charles if a driver is available in and is on his tempo right away.”
