George Russell has joked that Lewis Hamilton’s music habits were the ‘real reason’ for his departure from Mercedes last year.

Hamilton ditched the Brackley-based outfit after 12 highly-successful seasons at the end of 2024, taking to Ferrari to live out what he called a ‘childhood dream’, and to try and once again challenge for an eighth world title.

The 27-year-old has already claimed four podiums in 2025, and sits fourth in the drivers’ championship, 40 points above Ferrari’s Hamilton.

Russell misses out on Hamilton success

Having gone their separate ways, both British drivers will be hoping for more success in 2025, and beyond, as new regulations look to provide both of their respective teams with a chance to improve their current standing in F1’s pecking order.