GEORGE RUSSELL is confident his Mercedes teammate Lewis Hamilton will improve once problems on his car are fixed.
Hamilton, 37, has battled issues in his W13 throughout the season and was in visible pain when he got out the vehicle at the end of the Azerbaijan Grand Prix.
Hamilton’s car bounced along the straights in Baku.
Fellow Brit, Russell told Sky Sports F1 that Hamilton will be a “whole different beast” when the problems are sorted.
He added: “If you’d told me that before the season started, I would’ve been very pleased and obviously would’ve taken it.
“Ordinarily if you finish ahead of Lewis you’ve either won the race or are guaranteed a podium.
READ MORE IN SPORT
SUN BINGO GET £50 BONUS & 50 FREE SPINS TODAY
“Things are obviously different but I know how capable and great Lewis is and once we get the car, I’m sure he’s going to be a whole different beast.
“We’re so fixated on trying to solve these issues.
“But we’re not fixated on trying to maximise a race weekend and focusing on our driving because there’s so many issues to think about.
“I’m sure once we’ve got a good car underneath us the true Lewis Hamilton will be out there and fighting strong.”
Hamilton held his back in pain during post-race interviews and said: “I can’t express the pain you experience. At the end you’re just praying for it to end.”
Russell finished the weekend’s race in third while the seven-time World Champion again failed to podium in fourth.
The 24-year-old is fourth in the F1 standings after eight races and Hamilton is in sixth.
Last year’s champion Max Verstappen is top after victory in Baku.
