Lewis Hamilton's 400th F1 Start Sends George Russell Back to His Karting Autograph-Hunting Days

George Russell, who aspired to secure an autograph from Lewis Hamilton when they were both young racing enthusiasts, finds himself in a unique position after being named the 400th start for his Formula 1 team. The Mercedes driver recently reflected on his childhood memory of chasing Hamilton for an autograph at a go-kart track in England, expressing his deep respect for the British champion.

Hamilton, who recently hit his 400th career start, remains undeterred by the challenges he has faced in the sport, determined to prove his critics wrong once more. He recently offered a special message to his former teammate, George Russell, before the Mexico City GP. However, the 41-year-old is mindful of the difficulties Russell has encountered this season, acknowledging that the challenges have largely been on his car.

Still, Hamilton is confident that Russell will "bounce back" stronger. Meanwhile, Russell is set to face a five-place grid penalty at the Sao Paulo Grand Prix due to a change in his car's internal combustion engine, a setback he is determined to turn into a strong performance, inspired by Hamilton's own comeback from a similar setback in 2021.