Ahead of this season’s Italian Grand Prix, Mercedes introduced that Lewis Hamilton and George Russell will proceed to guide its driver line-up for the subsequent two seasons.
After Valtteri Bottas left the Anglo-German outfit on the finish of the 2021 F1 season, the duo has been paired collectively because the begin of the 2022 season.
The new contract will see Hamilton drive for Mercedes within the 2024 and 2025 seasons and proceed an historic relationship that has secured six World Drivers’ Championships and eight World Constructors’ Championships. Since becoming a member of the works crew, the seven-time world champion has taken 82 victories and 78 pole positions en path to turning into essentially the most profitable driver within the sport’s historical past.
Russell joined the Mercedes crew in 2017, turning into member of the crew’s Junior programme. After racing for Williams, the King’s Lynn-born driver was promoted to accomplice Lewis Hamilton in 2022 and claimed his maiden Grand Prix victory in final 12 months’s São Paulo Grand Prix.
Commenting on the announcement, seven-time world champion Hamilton mentioned: “We dream on a regular basis of being one of the best and now we have devoted the previous decade collectively to reaching that objective. Being on the high doesn’t occur in a single day or over a brief time frame, it takes dedication, arduous work and dedication and it’s been an honour to earn our means into the historical past books with this unbelievable crew.
“We have never been hungrier to win. We have learnt from every success but also every setback. We continue to chase our dreams, we continue to fight no matter the challenge and we will win again. I’m grateful to the team who have supported me both on and off the track. Our story isn’t finished, we are determined to achieve more together and we won’t stop until we do.”
One-time Grand Prix winner Russell added: “I’ve grown up with this crew ever since becoming a member of as a part of the Junior programme again in 2017. It’s my residence and it feels improbable to increase our particular relationship via 2025.
“After stepping as much as the Mercedes race seat final 12 months, I wished to reward the belief and perception that Toto and the remainder of the crew positioned in me. Taking my first pole place and race win final 12 months was an unforgettable feeling. More importantly although, it’s been nice to work with everyone at Brackley and Brixworth to make progress with our automotive and push ahead our improvement. Their loyalty, imaginative and prescient and arduous work is inspiring.
“We have made some significant steps over the last 18 months and are only getting stronger as a team. I’m excited to help continue to build on that momentum as we progress into 2024 and 2025 as we continue to focus on returning to the very front of the pack.”
The Team is delighted to announce that Lewis and George will proceed to guide its driver line-up in 2024 and 2025. 💪 pic.twitter.com/MSdlhUrOX7
— Mercedes-AMG PETRONAS F1 Team (@MercedesAMGF1) August 31, 2023
CEO and Team Principal Toto Wolff commented: “Continuing with our present driver line-up was a simple determination. We have the strongest pairing on the grid and each drivers are taking part in a vital function within the crew to maneuver us ahead. The power and stability they supply might be key constructing blocks for our future success.
“Our partnership with Lewis is likely one of the most profitable within the sport’s historical past. It was all the time a formality that we might proceed collectively – and it’s energising for us all to be confirming that publicly. His qualities as a pure racing driver are illustrated by his outstanding monitor document; however over our years collectively, he has grown to turn into a pillar and chief of our crew. Those management qualities are essential as we deal with preventing for world championships once more. As F1’s largest international star, he has additionally performed a key function in shaping our commitments to range, inclusion and sustainability, that might be foundations for our success within the years forward.
”George is a number one gentle of his technology. He has repaid the religion we confirmed in him when selling him to a race seat in 2022. His maiden pole place in Hungary and first Grand Prix victory in São Paulo have been standout moments final season. As a driver, he combines razor-sharp velocity with the tenacity of a real fighter. But he brings, too, an intelligence and consideration to element that may assist him to proceed to develop, develop and enhance additional. He is a pure match to the crew and we’re delighted to have prolonged the connection for the approaching years.”
