AlphaTauri team principal Franz Tost believes that George Russell is currently stronger than Lewis Hamilton at Mercedes.
George Russell joined Mercedes this year after his three years at Williams. Russell was off to a difficult season as Mercedes failed to put up a car good enough for a title challenge. Regardless, by the end of the season, the Briton managed to outscore his teammate Lewis Hamilton. Russell also managed to secure the only Mercedes win of 2022.
Russell showcased immense consistency along with superior racing skills.
The 2022 season was a story of the dominance of red bull and Max Verstappen. The Dutchman alone secured record-breaking 15 wins as the team secured both championships.
AlphaTauri team principal Franz Tost expects the upcoming 2023 season to be a closer title fight with Mercedes also joining the fight once again. However, Tost believes it will be Russell who would lead the Mercedes title challenge next year:
“Such superiority as shown by Max Verstappen and Red Bull Racing this year is rather rare,”
Tost told Speedweek.
“[In 2023] I expect a three-way battle between Max, Charles Leclerc and George Russell, who is already stronger than Lewis Hamilton.”
Red bull will enter the 2023 campaign with a penalty imposed due to the minor budget breach. This will limit the aerodynamic testing for the Milton Keynes-based squad. Tost acknowledges the penalty to have a negative impact but still believes that red bull will put up a good title fight in 2023:
“The FIA penalty will have a negative impact on Red Bull Racing, no question, even though the team has some of the best technicians,”
Tost said.
“But I trust Red Bull Racing to be able to fight for the world championship title again.”
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