Todt: Talent like Norris, Russell and Gasly “the Lewis of the new generation”

F1 News

18 December 2019 at 18:26
  • Bevan Youl

FIA president Jean Todt has said that the talented likes of Lando Norris, George Russell and Pierre Gasly are going to be the Lewis Hamilton’s “of the new generation”.

Hamilton wrapped up his sixth World Championship in total and fifth in a row with Mercedes in 2019, leaving him one behind legend Michael Schumacher’s record of seven.
 
But the 34-year old is getting towards the latter stages of his career and younger names are appearing on the grid.
 
Aston Martin Red Bull Racing’s Max Verstappen and Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc have already made a name for themselves while McLaren’s Norris and Williams’ Russell had excellent debut years in Formula 1.
 
Gasly had a good season for Toro Rosso in 2018 but couldn’t find the results for Red Bull, prompting a switch back to his former team which saw his good performances return.
 
"It's fantastic to have a personality and a talent like Lewis," said Todt as quoted by Motorsport.com.

"But it's part of the history of motorsport, and every decade, you have some special talents. Before Lewis you had Michael [Schumacher], you started with [Juan Manuel] Fangio, [Jim] Clark, [Jackie] Stewart.

"There has always been some amazing talents and one day, Lewis will go and some new talents will have been confirmed.

"Verstappen, Leclerc, the newcomers – the car will help them but drivers like Norris, like Russell, and Gasly, they are very talented drivers. That will be the Lewis of the new generation."