GEORGE RUSSELL is relishing learning from team-mate Lewis Hamilton this season.
The 24-year-old joined Mercedes at the start of this year expecting to immediately compete for wins.
Difficulties with the Silver Arrows’ car complicated matters, but Russell has managed to be competitive and consistent this season.
The fifth-placed Brit even finds himself 16 points ahead of legendary compatriot and team-mate Hamilton in the F1 driver standings.
But he isn’t getting carried away just yet, and is eagerly learning from the 37-year-old in order to be the best that he can be.
Speaking to the BBC, Russell said: “Going up against the greatest driver of all time, where do you set your expectations?
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“It’s by no means been a bad start to the season, but I would still like to raise my game a little bit.
“If I’m performing against the very best in sport – and I want to be the very best – I need to be at the top of my game every single week.
“I need to keep on improving. I need to look at my team-mate and see if he’s consistently doing something better. And there are certain little things that he is probably consistently better at than I am, for the time being, that I want to improve on.
“I expected no less, and I think that’s just a natural part of an athlete’s or driver’s development.”
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While he remains ahead of Hamilton in the standings, recent improvements to the car have seen the seven-time champion find some form.
Sir Lewis has now finished ahead of Russell in four consecutive races going into this weekend’s Hungarian Grand Prix.
Rather than obsessing over Hamilton, however, Russell is trying to stay focused on his own performance.
He added: “The results are good on paper.
“But I think every individual, you know if you’re performing at the top of your game or if you feel like you’ve got more to improve.
Racing drivers aren’t patient
George Russell
“It’s been a good start to the season, but there are definitely areas that I need to improve, and I definitely can improve, and I have been improving throughout the season.
“So I guess that’s exciting for the future. But racing drivers aren’t patient. I want to be right on top of my game today.
“My approach is to try not to look at what the others are doing too much because I truly believe that you have to to get the most out of yourself. You can’t almost copy, paste what somebody else is doing.
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“I’m just going out there to try and do my own business, to do the best possible job that I can. And if I’m ahead of Lewis, great. If I was a bit behind, that’s how it is.
“But I still believe in myself and I believe I’ve got the potential to win championships. It’s all about the mentality you have.”
