F1 pundit ruthlessly dubs George Russell as a ‘messy second driver’ compared to Lewis Hamilton

George Russell secured just one podium this season, while Lewis Hamilton boasts five.

F1 pundit ruthlessly dubs George Russell as a ‘messy second driver’ compared to Lewis Hamilton

Lewis Hamilton and George Russell (Via IMAGO)

Mercedes and Ferrari are at loggerheads for the runner-up position behind Red Bull. While the Ferrari pairing has consistently been closely matched this season, Mercedes presents a stark contrast. Lewis Hamilton maintains a nearly 60-point lead over teammate George Russell, consistently outperforming him. F1 pundit Peter Windsor highlights the diverging paths of these two drivers.

The performance gap has been evident in nearly every race since their upgrades in Spain. At the recent United States GP, Hamilton neared victory while Russell struggled throughout. He failed to replicate his teammate’s performance and, coupled with a poor strategy, finished seventh in the race. Following the disqualifications of Hamilton and Charles Leclerc, he was promoted to fifth.

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Peter Windsor, on his YouTube channel, suggested that Hamilton’s recent lack of championship-caliber cars partly contributes to his teammate battles. Hamilton’s exceptional driving, except for Qatar, shone in Austin.

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And I think he made the point that Austin was a really big race for him because he was Lewis again and he did everything he possibly could and it worked. 

For the seven-time champion, the United States Grand Prix in Austin held a special significance. It was a pivotal race, a moment where he came tantalizingly close to a win and was very strong throughout the weekend. In contrast, George Russell’s performance in Austin fell short of expectations.

George has been a bit of a messy second driver this weekend with lots of track limits penalties and things like that and Lewis looked like a real class act.

Peter Windsor contends that Lewis Hamilton’s Austin performance unnerved Max Verstappen

Max Verstappen, the 2023 reigning champion, is in the midst of a truly dominant season, having clinched a remarkable 15 race victories – equaling his previous season’s record with four races left. The Red Bull team has been flawless, securing victories in every race except one. Verstappen faced minimal competition for most of the season until the Austin GP.

Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen on the US GP
Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen on the US GP (Credits: Mirror)

During the closing stages of the Austin GP, Hamilton relentlessly pushed his Mercedes while Max Verstappen grappled with brake issues. Hamilton, however, ran out of laps, and Verstappen ultimately claimed victory, narrowly besting the Briton by a mere 1.5 seconds. Acknowledging the tense situation, Windsor remarked:

Max Verstappen, for sure, was concerned in those last couple of laps of the Grand Prix.

As the battle for the runner-up position intensifies between Mercedes and Ferrari, the performance of their drivers takes center stage. Hamilton remains a paragon of experience and skill, while George Russell confronts the challenge of proving himself in this fiercely competitive field. The 25-year-old must urgently rediscover his form and narrow the gap to his teammate to secure the runner-up spot for his team.

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