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George Russell Makes Bold Claim About Why Lewis Hamilton Left Mercedes

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Samriddhi Jaiswal | Last updated Jun 9, 2025 6:49 AM ET

George Russell had fans laughing with a cheeky quip about Lewis Hamilton’s exit from Mercedes suggesting it may have had less to do with Ferrari’s offer and more to do with loud music.

In a light-hearted segment posted on F1’s official YouTube channel, several drivers were asked to reveal their “personality red flags.” One of the questions posed: ‘Is it a red flag if your teammate plays music too loudly in the room next door?’

Russell didn’t miss a beat. “Big red flag,” he said with a grin. “I mean, I’ve had that for three years. That’s the real reason Lewis had to leave. It was—the music was too loud.”

The comment, clearly made in jest, quickly grabbed attention online. Russell and Hamilton were Mercedes teammates from 2022 to 2024 before Hamilton shocked the paddock with his decision to join Ferrari starting in 2025.

Though Russell’s remark was all in good humor, it offered a rare peek into the duo’s behind-the-scenes dynamic during their time together. Hamilton, known for his love of music—he even dabbled in recording songs under the pseudonym XNDA alongside Christina Aguilera—never hid his passion for turning up the volume during race weekends.

The video has become a viral moment, with fans appreciating Russell’s growing ease and charisma on camera.

Q: Teammate plays music too loudly in room next door.

George Russell: I mean, I've had that for three years. That's the real reason, you know, Lewis had to leave. It's just the music was too loud. pic.twitter.com/eFlMEDo3Q5
— sim (@simsgazette) June 8, 2025

While Hamilton is now focused on building his legacy in red, moments like this prove his presence still looms large at Mercedes and that his former teammate hasn’t lost his sense of humor.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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