26 December 2023 , 16:23
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Eddie Jordan has questioned whether George Russell is good enough to rival Lewis Hamilton at Mercedes.
Russell struggled in 2023. He finished eighth in the championship after recording just two podiums. Hamilton, meanwhile, achieved six podiums to finish third overall. Only the two Red Bull drivers, Max Verstappen and Sergio Perez, enjoyed more success this year.
Russell joined Mercedes from Williams two years ago and was expected to push for victories. Yet the 25-year-old has picked up just one triumph to the leave critics, such as Jordan, questioning whether he's capable of matching Hamilton's achievements.
Jordan pondered Russell's future on the Formula for Success podcast with former Formula 1 stars Martin Donnelly and David Coulthard. Russell has two years remaining on his Mercedes contract and could get the axe if his performances don't improve.
Speaking about Hamilton's longevity, Donnelly said: "Lewis, to be doing this since 2007, to go and pack a bag, unpack a bag, go to an airport, jump on a plane, even if it’s a Learjet. To still have that mojo to keep doing that, year in, year out."
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That's when Jordan replied: "To do what he’s now doing and honestly, he’s making George look a bit second-rate now at the moment. And George at the beginning we were thinking at the beginning of the year, he’s mustard, he’s world-class."
As Jordan claims, Russell's stock was much higher this time last year. He finished fourth in the championship - two spots ahead of Hamilton - and won in Sao Paulo. Yet Russell failed to outperform the seven-time world champion again in 2023.
Hamilton remains the main man at Mercedes (AP)Do you agree with Eddie Jordan? Let us know in the comments below!
Donnelly added: "He (Hamilton) performing against Lando (Norris), (Charles) Leclerc, even Max is still looking over his shoulder."
Although Hamilton endured a second successive winless campaign in 2023, the fact he was able to outperform Russell and several other upcoming F1 stars was telling. His form bodes well for next year... if Mercedes can give him a competitive car.
Mercedes chief Toto Wolff is confident they can do that. "Every year that is not easy is part of a learning curve that makes you better afterwards," Wolff told Planet F1 this month after the team's disappointing 2023. "I would have wished we would have competed for the World Championship but that wasn’t the case. So we are looking forward to next year.
"All sails are set for 2024. We take the learnings and there is more analysis that we’re doing but it’s about the new car, it’s about the organisation."