However, there was a standout moment when the Briton claimed victory in the season\u2019s first Sprint in Shanghai -- a performance Russell believes showcased exactly what Hamilton is capable of.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
When asked during the media day ahead of the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix about how he views Hamilton\u2019s time at Ferrari so far, Russell responded: \u201cI don\u2019t really know, to be honest. After Fernando (Alonso), he\u2019s the most experienced driver on the grid, a seven-time World Champion, and he\u2019s an incredible person and racing driver.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
\u201cWe saw it in China, second race of the season, on pole in the Sprint, wins the race comfortably. I know what he\u2019s capable of, and it\u2019s not easy going into a new team and the competition is tough, but he\u2019s an amazing driver and I\u2019m sure, when things start to click, as they did in China, we\u2019ll see more of that magic.\u201d<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Reflecting on his own season so far, Russell is satisfied with his performance, having secured podium finishes in three of the first four races. Mercedes currently sit second in the Constructors\u2019 Championship behind McLaren, though they trail by 58 points.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
That said, Russell admits some of those chances may have resulted from occasional mistakes by McLaren, who are still widely regarded as the team to beat in the season.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
\u201cMy aspirations are to fight for the World Championship and, being realistic, we don\u2019t have a car to fight McLaren. They could probably have finished first and second in every race this year, but they\u2019ve given the rest of us a few opportunities,\u201d Russell said.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
\u201cMyself and Max (Verstappen) have jumped on the podium probably one too many times because of a few little errors, and we\u2019ll take it, but I don\u2019t imagine those errors continuing for 24 races.\u201d<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Looking back on his drive to P2 last time out in Bahrain, Russell suggested that he expects a tougher fight from the Silver Arrows\u2019 competitors during the weekend ahead in Jeddah.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
\u201cIt was a great race, great weekend [in Bahrain],\u201d the 27-year-old said. \u201cIt was sort of the validation we needed from the car going to a totally different track.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
\u201cA lot of tyre overheating versus the easy degradation of Suzuka and China to see (whether) we have built a more rounded car, and we clearly have. But I expect this weekend, still, the competition to be tough.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
\u201cIt was a great race, great weekend [in Bahrain],\u201d the 27-year-old said. \u201cIt was sort of the validation we needed from the car going to a totally different track.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
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