Lando Norris and George Russell: The Race to Inherit Lewis Hamilton’s Crown
The standing of British drivers is in good hands for the foreseeable, but who takes the lead in that sphere remains unanswered.
Official Formula 1 social media videos are not always the most entertaining. Rarely venturing into awkward territory, they present a sanitised vision of the paddock, with the drivers always on message and on their best behavior. However, every so often, they throw up a little gem.
In Barcelona earlier this year, ahead of the release of EA Sports’ F1 23, they got various drivers to guess their own and each other’s driver card ratings. It was a fun game that revealed some interesting dynamics between the racers. This is where Lando Norris and George Russell enter the picture.
The two young British drivers have known each other for a long time, having competed against each other in karting and junior categories since their early days. Though not direct contemporaries due to their age difference (Russell is 25 to Norris’ 23), they have formed a good relationship. However, there is always a little edge between them, as both are in pursuit of inheriting Lewis Hamilton’s mantle as the top British driver.
During the F1 23 game, their ratings were revealed, with Norris awarded an overall rating of 89 compared to Russell’s 88 (down two from last year). Russell, less than impressed, jokingly tipped the card onto the floor in mock anger. Norris, loving the banter, called him a sore loser.
As both British drivers reach their 100th race milestone in Austin this weekend, it’s an opportune moment to ask: who is better placed to inherit Hamilton’s crown? Can we definitively say which of them is the quicker driver or the more likely world champion? The answer is likely no.
Trying to draw meaningful conclusions based on raw numbers is pretty pointless. Russell’s three years in a Williams car that rarely finished in the points skews the head-to-head data. In terms of achievements, Norris has one more podium than Russell, with 11, but Russell has the only win, in Brazil last year. Both drivers have also had their fair share of bad luck.
In terms of racing styles, Norris has shown an ability to consistently score points, finishing races more often than not. He has scored points an impressive 74 times, with only 10 retirements in 99 Grands Prix. On the other hand, Russell has shown an increased appetite for risk-taking, often being the first driver to make bold decisions on strategy or tire choices.
Interestingly, their off-track personas differ from their racing styles, with Norris being the livelier and cheekier personality. He enjoys teasing Russell about having lost his fun side since joining Mercedes, referring to him as a teacher’s pet in the F1 23 video.
To get some definitive answers, perhaps we need to compare their performances against their current teammates.
Norris, who has emerged as a team leader at McLaren, now faces the challenge of his rookie teammate Oscar Piastri. Although Piastri is still far behind Norris in terms of championship points, he has been growing in confidence, as demonstrated by his recent second-place finish in Qatar. Some have even noticed signs of Norris struggling under pressure, including former world champion Nico Rosberg.
Russell, on the other hand, has already proven himself against Hamilton in their first season together, outscoring the seven-time world champion and clinching Mercedes’ only win of the 2022 campaign. However, this season has been more challenging as Hamilton has shown improvement while Russell has made some errors.
Determining which driver is faster or better placed to inherit Hamilton’s crown is challenging without direct comparison in the same machinery. Both Mercedes and McLaren have made progress, making it even more exciting to see how their battles unfold over the next seasons.
As Lando Norris and George Russell reach their 100th Grand Prix in Austin this weekend, British fans can be thankful for having two exceptional talents ready to duke it out if they get the opportunity to drive a race-winning car.
