In 2022, George Russell stepped in as Lewis Hamilton’s teammate, taking over from Valtteri Bottas.
George Russell has set the record straight on Mercedes’ upgrade drama at the Monaco Grand Prix, claiming Lewis Hamilton was “happy” to let him run an updated front wing after snubbing a coin toss.
Russell outqualified Hamilton for the seventh time in eight races in F1 2024 to claim fifth on the grid in Monaco, with Max Verstappen’s Red Bull splitting the Mercedes team-mates.
George Russell responds to Lewis Hamilton’s Mercedes upgrade comments
After consistently performing in the top three during practice at the principality, Hamilton’s position dropped to seventh in Q3. Following the session, Hamilton disclosed that Russell was the sole driver equipped with the upgraded front wing provided by Mercedes in Monaco.
The seven-time World Champion acknowledged that he was inherently behind Russell by two tenths in qualifying, which led him to state that he doesn’t expect to outperform his teammate frequently in F1 2024.
After Hamilton’s remarks, speculation arose that Russell could be given higher priority for upgrades as Hamilton moves on from Mercedes to join Ferrari for F1 2025.
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During the coverage of the Monaco Grand Prix on Channel 4, Russell disclosed that Hamilton had given his approval for him to utilize the new front wing. Hamilton had previously tested the upgrade in the simulator before the race weekend and was content with Russell using it.
He asserted that Hamilton’s choice to not go for the upgrade was influenced by his worries about potential front wing damage in Monaco. This concern would require him to switch back to an earlier version and consequently result in a pit-lane start.
He mentioned that over the weekend, there was only one front wing available. It was decided on Tuesday that a coin toss would determine who would receive it.
Lewis confirmed that he had tested it on the simulator and approved of my usage this weekend, acknowledging the inherent risks involved.
“If we were to make an error during qualification and cause damage, it is evident that we would permanently lose the use of one front wing, necessitating a start from the pit lane.”
I was delighted to embrace the opportunity and viewed it as a delayed birthday gift from him, granting me permission to utilize it.
When asked about Hamilton’s reluctance to participate in the coin toss, Russell responded, “No, we didn’t actually do the coin toss.”
In F1 2024, Russell and Hamilton once again express differing opinions regarding Mercedes’ procedures. During the season-opening Bahrain Grand Prix, Hamilton asserts that he had adjusted his set-up to better suit the race after falling behind Russell in qualifying.
Russell disputed the claim, stating to various media outlets, including PlanetF1.com, that he and Hamilton had a “fairly similar” set-up with “no significant distinctions.”
In an interview with various media outlets, including PlanetF1.com, Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff reasserted the team’s commitment to maintaining transparency and fairness, following the official announcement of Lewis Hamilton’s move to Ferrari in February.
However, he admitted that both the team and the driver would probably encounter “novel and demanding circumstances” throughout the F1 2024 season.
He expressed, “Maintaining transparency and fairness has always been my goal as a team principal, and it will remain unchanged at Mercedes in 2024.”
“We are committed to upholding our principles and maintaining our racing integrity, and we will honor that commitment. Additionally, I will personally ensure that our drivers adhere to these values.”
Regarding the future development, it is imperative that we closely examine this matter.
The regulations remain largely unchanged, and in 2025, we will assess later in the season the implications in terms of technical details.
However, I am not at all bothered by this. Our company experiences engineers transitioning to other teams, and the notice periods can be as short as six months. Hence, I have complete confidence in Lewis’s integrity when it comes to sharing information in this regard.
Our main objective is to ensure that this season is a resounding success for both drivers and for Mercedes. Every single one of us will put in our maximum effort to make this happen.
Managing this new situation is certainly unfamiliar territory for Lewis and the team. However, when we narrow our focus to the immediate future, it becomes evident that the impact on the overall development side is not significant. It is important to remember that the racing team has been assigned specifically to handle the product, allowing other aspects to progress unaffected.
I am constantly intrigued by fresh and demanding situations, while also striving to strike a balance between the interests of 2024 Mercedes and those of the 2025 driver.
We will start by openly discussing how to handle it, and I am confident that we will reach a positive resolution together.
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