Is Tension Mounting at Mercedes Due to Treatment of Drivers?
Recently, there has been scrutiny over the relationship between George Russell and Lewis Hamilton. Russell's W15 featured an upgraded front wing in Monaco, sparking speculation that he was receiving preferential treatment from the Silver Arrows, especially since Hamilton will not be with the Brackley-based team next year. During the Monaco Grand Prix weekend, Hamilton surprisingly admitted that he does not expect to outqualify his teammate Russell for the remainder of 2024, hinting at something affecting his performance. Despite Hamilton leading Mercedes' intra-team battle in all three practice sessions in Monaco, Russell managed to secure a small but decisive advantage in qualifying, finishing ahead by less than a tenth. This allowed him to gain two positions on the grid, maintaining his 2024 Saturday advantage over Hamilton at 7-1.
Russell, however, denies any tension between them. He explains that he received the upgrades over Hamilton because the seven-time World Champion opted to avoid risking damage to them. Hamilton's crash during practice at last year's Monaco Grand Prix at Mirabeau might have influenced his decision, as he lodged the car's front wing under the barrier, requiring marshals to struggle to remove his W14 from the scene. Russell was prepared to take on the responsibility for the team and accept the risk. He stated, "If we made a mistake in qualifying and damaged it, obviously that’s one front wing that we won’t ever be able to use again, and you’d have to start from the pit lane. I was happy to take that risk using it and I thought it was a belated birthday present he gave me, saying I could use it.”
Lewis is finishing out this season. He is not interested in upgrades, experiments, risks, or rewards. He is merely driving until he moves to Ferrari. This does not necessarily indicate tension between the two; rather, it might suggest Hamilton stepping back and allowing Russell to take on more responsibility. However, after the upgrade was used throughout the weekend, Mercedes deemed it a success. Shovlin described it as a "step in the right direction" based on Russell's feedback. Hamilton is now scheduled to receive the same part in Canada.
