George Russell believes Lewis Hamilton would not have opted to join Ferrari if he had foreseen the performance improvements made by Mercedes this season. Hamilton's decision to leave Mercedes for Ferrari came after a winless streak with limited progress at Mercedes, but recent victories by Mercedes, including Russell's win in Austria and Hamilton's at Silverstone, indicate a positive turn. Mercedes attributes Hamilton's struggles in one-lap conditions to his driving style not aligning with F1's current ground effect cars. Despite Hamilton's challenges, Mercedes notes progress in closing the gap between him and Russell. Russell and Mercedes are optimistic about the team's future, with strong power unit prospects for 2026, contrasting with Ferrari's recent performance decline, potentially influencing Hamilton's decision to switch teams.