George Russell believed that Lewis Hamilton’s departure would give the impression that the Formula 1 champion had lost confidence in Mercedes in the sixth season of Drive to Survive. The latest season of the Netflix docuseries was released just before the start of the 2024 season, amidst a busy driver market following Hamilton’s surprising move to Ferrari for 2025. The sixth episode of the show focused on the seven-time world champion, as Hamilton negotiated a new contract with Mercedes, with Russell making a significant admission on behalf of the Silver Arrows.
Hamilton’s contract with the Brackley-based team was set to expire at the end of 2023, leading the seven-time world champion to hold discussions with team boss regarding his future. Russell acknowledged that Mercedes would be in a difficult situation if Hamilton chose to leave the team, as it would appear that the 39-year-old had lost faith in the Silver Arrows.
“If Lewis were to leave, it would put Mercedes in a challenging position because it would almost seem like he has lost confidence in the team,” Russell stated.
Ultimately, Hamilton signed a two-year extension with Mercedes. However, the 39-year-old will utilize an exit clause to join Ferrari after just one year of his new contract. Nevertheless, Hamilton’s extension with Mercedes was a major topic of discussion in Drive to Survive due to the seven-time world champion’s remarkable legacy with the team.
Mercedes may have secured Hamilton’s services with an extension last season. However, the British driver signed a lucrative $430 million contract with Maranello as part of a multi-year deal. Consequently, Hamilton will depart from the Silver Arrows after joining the team back in 2013.
Hamilton’s departure came as a surprise to Mercedes, as the team is currently scrambling to find a suitable replacement. In the meantime, Toto Wolff has mentioned that George Russell will become the new team leader from next season. Russell has also revealed that he has received calls from various drivers interested in replacing Hamilton.
Drive to Survive will surely delve into Hamilton’s final season at Mercedes this year. However, fans will have to wait until season seven to witness it. Until then, fans will be eagerly anticipating how things unfold for Lewis Hamilton and the Silver Arrows in their last year together after a decade-long journey.
According to the Source firstsportz.com