Mercedes Formula 1 driver George Russell says his new team is demonstrating “motivation and fire” to bounce back after Lewis Hamilton’s controversial defeat during the last lap of the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.

During an interview released by Mercedes, the new driver says that his personal emphasis in 2022 will be on enhancing his own performance and that of his car, while setting himself “micro targets” along the way.

The last few days, Russell has been busy at the team's Brackley factory getting to know his engineers and running the new W13 in the simulator, and he says he already feels comfortable in the camp.

Sitting down with @GeorgeRussell63 for a pre-season catch-up, ahead of his first season with the Team! 👊

— Mercedes-AMG PETRONAS F1 Team (@MercedesAMGF1) February 11, 2022

"Because I spent so much time with the team prior to joining Williams in Formula 1 as a junior driver, I feel like I know everybody so well already," he said in a Mercedes video interview.

"So we were just straight to business on the important bits and bobs, to understand the new car, to understand the challenges, and to try and prepare as best as possible for the season ahead,

"And I think following the conclusion of last year, there's so much motivation and fire within the whole factory to bounce back. And that is incredible for me to see."

Russell says the 2022 cars are still so unknown for everyone: “the characteristics of how the downforce is produced are completely different to the previous era, so we’re still learning as we go”.

“I think this will be a year full of developments as everyone wants to arrive at the first race with the fastest car as possible, but it is very difficult to say how the end result will be.

"Everyone needs to understand which are their limitations and strengths and build on them”

"My hope for 2022 is to really get the maximum for myself and the team around me”.

“I think it's going to be such an interesting year of development. And I think that's truly where all the performance is going to be this year.

"But in terms of a result, I truly don't believe you can put a value or target on that, because nobody knows where they're going to be when they reach the first race.

"You have to have your micro targets on where am I going to improve on myself? Where am I going to improve on the car?

"And if you do every single aspect correctly you give yourself the best chance of reaching the obvious goal."