Russell: Learning from Lewis made me a winner

Mercedes driver hails Hamilton's influence after maiden F1 triumph

George Russell paid an emotional tribute to the generosity and support of his family, his Mercedes team and teammate Lewis Hamilton on Sunday after a flawless drive to his maiden full victory at the Brazilian Grand Prix.

The 24-year-old Briton, who won Saturday's sprint race to secure pole position for Sunday's classic contest, dominated from lights to flag to finish 1.5 seconds clear of seven-time world champion Hamilton.

It was the first one-two of the season for the 'Silver Arrows' and a great triumph for the team after a challenging and disappointing start to the year when they struggled to cope with the new 'ground effect' era in Formula 1.

Mercedes is now just 19 points behind Ferrari in its bid to finish second in the constructors' championship, a position it felt was unlikely after struggling so badly in the first half of the season.

A tearful Russell admitted he had been through an emotional roller-coaster as he and the team battled to recover their competitive form, having been team champion for the previous eight seasons.

"That was a really tough race," he said. "I felt in control, but Lewis was super fast and, when I saw the safety car toward the end of the race, I thought 'Oh, Jesus — this is going to be a really difficult end.'

"He put me under so much pressure and I am so happy now to have come away from that with the victory."

Asked to reflect on his journey to the top and his first win at his 81st grand prix, he thanked his parents, his family, his girlfriend and members of Mercedes, the team he joined as a junior driver in 2017.

"I'm speechless," he said. "On the in-lap all of these memories came flooding back. Starting off with my mom and dad in go-karts and going through all the support I've had from the rest of my family, my girlfriend, my trainer, my manager...

"Then obviously the likes of Gwen Lagrue who gave me the opportunity to get on the program with Mercedes and James Vowles and Toto Wolff.

"The list is endless. I can't thank them enough. I am super proud today. What we have done is unbelievable this season — it's been such an emotional roller-coaster.

'Great to work with'

"Having Lewis Hamilton as a teammate is something exceptional too. He is on it every day, he works so hard and he never misses anything. And he has been so great to work with — I have learned so much."

Hamilton, who was hoping for a win himself to extend his record of winning at least once in every season since he entered Formula 1 in 2007, was delighted for Russell and the team.

"Firstly, huge congratulations to George. What an amazing drive today — he truly deserves it. We have all worked so hard for a win, but a 1-2 is incredible. Hugely deserved. A big thank-you."

Hamilton, who was granted Brazilian citizenship last week, also thanked the vociferous Brazilian fans for their support.

"I really had one of the best weeks of my life, with how everyone accepted me here and the warm welcome I had. I'm excited to come back here again. Hopefully some holidays in the future!"

Mercedes team chief Wolff, who was absent, told Sky Sports F1 that Russell and Hamilton worked well as a pairing.

"It's been back and forth but both drivers push each other which is very good," he said. "They work well together and that's how it should be."

He notably praised Vowles, the team's chief strategist, for his work with the young driver program and Russell's progress.

"I remember that George's win in F3 was the only time that Niki Lauda ever visited the junior series and he told me 'he's going to become a good one'.

Hamilton, who started second, had dropped to eighth after his car made contact with Max Verstappen's Red Bull on the seventh lap. The Dutchman was given a five-second penalty and finished in sixth place.

Hamilton did not want to elaborate on the incident with Verstappen.

"What can I say? You know how it is with Max," Hamilton said after the race.

Verstappen was unapologetic.

"I was not upset by the penalty, but if you ask me would I do it again? Absolutely," Verstappen said. "I went round the outside in turn one, and I just felt it as soon as I was going next to him that he had no intention to leave me space, and I was like, 'OK, if you are not going to leave me space then we will just collide'."

Verstappen and his Red Bull team have already been crowned F1 champions.

Agencies