There will be a natural bedding-in period for Russell, in particular, as team work and team harmony will be vital for Mercedes in the early stages of development of next year's cars that feature a radically different aerodynamic concept.
But if last year's Sakhir Grand Prix is anything to go by, do not expect any teething problems for Russell to last too long given how close he came to pole position and race victory in a car in which he struggled to fit as he stepped into Covid-19-hit Hamilton's Mercedes for what proved a one-off appearance.
It is when you hear comments from Russell's current rivals on track that you know he is something special, the real deal, if you will. Two-time champion Fernando Alonso is one of those who has nothing but respect for Russell, even going so far as to swap helmets with the British driver earlier this season.
During his two-year sabbatical, Russell is one who caught Alonso's eye as he said: "We know that it [this year's car] is not a competitive package.
"It is better this year but not in the last two. He was putting in something special every weekend and that was nice to watch at home. That is something you always get impressed by.”
In a later interview, Alonso added: "George Russell is the one that surprises me every weekend, how he's driving the Williams. Zero mistakes. I'm really surprised about his natural speed."