George Russell Shares Honest Truth About Lewis Hamilton’s Ferrari Gamble originally appeared on Athlon Sports.

If you’re wondering whether Lewis Hamilton’s bold jump to Ferrari was a misstep, George Russell has a different take: the split has been a needed reset—good for Hamilton and good for Mercedes. 

While the seven-time world champion grinds through a bruising first year in red, Russell says the shake-up has helped both sides refocus on what matters most: performance. 

Hamilton’s Ferrari story has been a rollercoaster. The high point came early with a Sprint pole and victory in China, proof that, on the right weekend, the 40-year-old can still bend a field to his will. But his recent form has been unforgiving. 

At the Hungaroring, a track where he owns records for poles and wins, Hamilton qualified and finished 12th. He then went on to call himself “useless” over the radio before doubling down in TV interviews. He even quipped that Ferrari should “probably change driver,” an unusually blunt self-assessment from the sport’s all-time win leader. 

Russell’s view cuts through the noise. With Hamilton gone, Mercedes hit the reset button and elevated teenager Andrea Kimi Antonelli alongside him for 2025, giving the young Italian huge shoes to fill, but a clear signal that the Brackley-based team is building for the next era. Russell has urged patience as both Hamilton and Mercedes navigate transition years with cars that have been tricky to unlock week-to-week. 

For Hamilton, the bigger picture still matters. The 2026 rules overhaul promises radically different cars and power units, lighter chassis, active aero, and a far more electrified hybrid package running on sustainable fuels. 

That kind of clean slate can reshuffle the competitive order and give veterans with elite race craft and teams that execute a fresh shot at the summit. 

Half a season of @lewishamilton in @scuderiaferrari red ❤️#F1pic.twitter.com/4RDKxheCfM

— Formula 1 (@F1) August 16, 2025

So is Hamilton’s Ferrari gamble failing? Not if you zoom out.There’s evidence of peak days (China), hard lessons (Hungary), and a horizon (2026) where experience and adaptability will be priceless. Russell’s message lands as both pragmatic and respectful: sometimes you need to break the mold to find a better one. 

For Hamilton. The bet is that the short-term pain buys a chance to fight for history under a new rulebook. Given his resume, writing off now would be the real gamble.

Related: Lewis Hamilton Gives Update Amid Ferrari Challenges

This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Aug 17, 2025, where it first appeared.

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