GEORGE RUSSELL has been warned he has NO chance of beating Lewis Hamilton.
Russell, 24, is Hamilton’s new team-mate at Mercedes this season after spending three years on loan at Williams.
The racer from King’s Lynn is highly rated by Merc chiefs.
He came close to winning on his debut for the team when he stood in for Covid-struck Hamilton at the Bahrain GP in 2020.
But Hamilton’s former team-mate Valtteri Bottas says Britain’s seven-time world champion is simply unbeatable in the same car.
Bottas — who will now drive for Alfa Romeo after five years with Mercedes — told SunSport: “I don’t see anyone else beating Lewis in the near future in the same machinery.
“George will adjust well because he has been with Mercedes for some years.
“But beating Lewis is not easy. I have experienced that. It is his consistency in his performances.
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“Every driver has form that is a little bit up and down, but his baseline for performance is just so high.
“Even when he has a bad day it is not too bad. It is his consistency over the season.
“Another of his key strengths is his ability to adapt to different conditions, the skill to react to changes, be it set-up or whatever.
“This and his race-craft. His tyre management is a special skill and all these things are combined with talent.
“And he puts in the work, which not many people see, so he is hard to beat.
“I can be proud that on my day, I’ve been able to beat him. But not consistently enough to beat him over a season.”
Bottas’ departure from Mercedes came against the backdrop of the controversy in Abu Dhabi, when Hamilton was robbed of another championship after the race director broke the rules.
The Finn was treated to a guard of honour when he left the team’s Brackley HQ for the final time.
He left on good terms once he knew Merc were lining up Russell as his replacement — then managed to secure himself a multi-year deal at Alfa Romeo.
Bottas, 32 — once dubbed as the perfect “wingman” to Hamilton, 37, by boss Toto Wolff — is now relishing his role as his new team’s No 1 driver, alongside rookie Guanyu Zhou, 22.
Bottas added: “When I joined Mercedes, it was difficult for me to take the lead because of Lewis being there.
“With him being in the team, it was always difficult for me to take that lead role.
“So now it is different and a fresh start for me — and having that lead role is a good feeling.
“A part of me is always going to miss working at Mercedes. Now I have started looking back at my time there, I have tried to take all the positive moments we had.
“There were great moments and I enjoyed working with Lewis and Toto, but I am also really excited for my new chapter.
“I’m sure with the experience I have with Williams and after five years at Mercedes, I will be able to help the team move forward.
“I feel really comfortable with my role. Yes, there is a responsibility and I have commitments to the team, but it is exciting.”