A Mercedes Formula 1 star Lewis Hamilton’s has been backed to play a significant role in the outcome of this season’s title race.
With just ten races to go, defending champion Max Verstappen is in prime position to clinch his fourth championship given he currently holds a 78-point lead over McLaren rival Lando Norris.
However, the Dutch racer has been far from his dominant best in 2024, and has shown signs of the pressure getting to him on a number of occasions as a result of performances that weren’t quite up to standard.
The 26-year-old has now gone four races without a win, but will hope for a welcome return to form in front of his home fans at this weekend’s Dutch Grand Prix.
Norris will of course be aiming to spoil the party, but he isn’t the only driver targeting a spot on top of the podium in Zandvoort.
Russell not ‘out’ of championship battle
Lewis Hamilton and George Russell of Mercedes are currently among the most outstanding drivers in the sport, having secured victories in three of the last four races collectively. Following Russell’s victory in Austria, Hamilton achieved an emotional win at Silverstone, and subsequently, he garnered maximum points in Belgium. Although the 39-year-old initially finished second to his teammate in Spa, he was elevated to first place after Russell’s disqualification post-race.
This outcome was disappointing for both Mercedes and Russell, who had executed a flawless one-stop strategy to cross the finish line first. His performance garnered praise from Sky F1 commentator David Croft, who suggested that the former Williams driver could contend for additional race victories this season, significantly influencing the potential outcome of the 2024 championships.
In a discussion on the Sky Sports F1 Podcast, Croft remarked, “I remain thoroughly impressed with George Russell’s performance in Spa, particularly his strategic adjustments and his impeccable driving, which unfortunately resulted in no points for him—a tough break indeed. Both Martin [Brundle] and I anticipated that Lewis Hamilton would easily catch up to Russell, especially considering the length of time he had been on those tyres—34 laps in total. However, Lewis found it challenging to overtake, which speaks to George’s commendable driving. Do not underestimate his potential for similar performances in the future.”