LEWIS HAMILTON has taken new Mercedes team-mate George Russell way off track and into the sea – with a promise to take to the sky next.
British racing legend Hamilton, 37, posted an Instagram photo of him and Russell, 24, wearing wetsuits and stood next to surf boards.
Mercedes team-mates George Russell and Lewis Hamilton are both gunning for the F1 drivers’ crown this season
Hamilton captioned the image: “Got in as much surfing as I could in Melbourne.
“It’s so good for training, I’m trying to get the whole team on boards.
“So far I got George Russell. He’s… getting there.”
And it sounds like the burgeoning bromance might move up another gear next as Hamilton tweeted the same image and said “next up” he is planning to get Russell to “skydive”.
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Seven-time world champion Hamilton has been skydiving for years and is also a keen surfer.
Former Williams star Russell joined Merc to race alongside fellow Brit Hamilton this season as a replacement for Finnish star Valtteri Bottas.
Russell has made it clear he has not joined the team to make up the numbers alongside Hamilton but to compete for the title himself.
But the social media images suggest any competitive edge between the two stars has not adversely affected their growing friendship.
Russell claimed his first podium place of the season as he finished third at the Australian Grand Prix on the weekend.
Ahead of next week’s fourth round, the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix in Imola, Russell is second in the drivers’ standings with 37 points, nine points ahead of fifth-placed Hamilton.
Ferrari star Charles Leclerc leads the way with 71 points after winning the last two races.
Merc boss Toto Wolff admits their sluggish start has left them with about a 40 percent chance of winning the championship this season.
