George Russell has hit back at Lewis Hamilton’s controversial comments last month by stating the F1 legend was merely “frustrated” when suggesting he was being favoured.
George Russell has shut down Lewis Hamilton ‘s claim that he’s unlikely to out-qualify his Mercedes team-mate for the rest of the Formula One season.
Russell stated “Hamilton knows full well that we get the same treatment”, despite the 39-year-old’s comments suggesting otherwise amid another frustrating season for the veteran.
The tension between Hamilton and his team has been clear to see since he announced his move to Ferrari at the end of the current season. He expressed his frustration with Mercedes in May, saying he’d had enough of “toiling” further down the grid and slammed the team’s strategy at the Monaco Grand Prix over the radio.
I don’t anticipate being ahead of George in qualifying, particularly this year, but we’ve just got to keep pushing, and the races are strong,” Hamilton vented. His comments were in relation to missing out on a new front wing, which he allowed Russell to take as there was just one available at the time.
Russell, 26, has now played down Hamilton’s earlier remarks by claiming his frustrations got the better of him during the rant. Speaking to Channel 4, Russell said: “I think that was probably comments in the heat of the moment because he knows full well that we get the same treatment.
“Lewis is a winner, and of course these years have been frustrating for all of us, but especially for him. He’s been used to winning every single season he competes in, and hasn’t won in three years. So as I said, it’s frustrating for him, it’s frustrating for all of us, but I’m sure he didn’t mean it as it came across.”
Mercedes team boss Toto Wolff echoed those sentiments. Asked back in May about whether Hamilton’s remarks indicated a hint of paranoia, Wolff said: “All drivers [are] a bit sceptical at times.
“I think as a team, we’ve demonstrated that even in the most tense competitions between team-mates, we are trying to always balance it right and be transparent and fair.
“I can understand as a driver, you want the best out of yourself and the team, [and] sometimes when it’s going against you, you can question it. As a team we are 100 per cent on a mission of giving the two drivers two great cars, the best possible cars, and the best possible strategies and support.”
F1 icon Johnny Herbert rejected the idea that Mercedes is ignoring the seven-time world champion.
The ex-Lotus and Sauber driver criticized Hamilton’s remarks as being without merit.”
Since the Canadian Grand Prix, both drivers have been utilizing the upgraded front wing.
However, rumors of growing friction between Mercedes and the experienced driver continue to circulate.
Recently, an email, which has not been confirmed, was reportedly sent by a team member implying that the manufacturer is purposely undermining Hamilton before he leaves.
The police informed Mercedes that no criminal acts were committed after the F1 team asked them to investigate.
Hamilton was not aware of the email sent before the Spanish Grand Prix and showed his backing for Russell, stating that they have always been a cohesive team. Following the Spanish Grand Prix, Hamilton achieved his season-best third place finish, outperforming Russell in only three out of the 10 races held in 2024. Russell is currently in seventh place in the drivers’ standings with 81 points, whereas Hamilton is in eighth place with 70 points.
