F1 pundit Natalie Pinkham believes that there will eventually be a changing of the guard at Mercedes where George Russell takes over as team leader from Lewis Hamilton, despite the seven-time world champion showing no signs of slowing down.
The 38-year-old is entering the twilight years of his F1 career but is still producing at the highest level. With 16 rounds of the season already down, Hamilton is one of just two drivers – the other being, of course, Max Verstappen – to score points at every race.
This consistency means that Hamilton sits 75 points clear of his Mercedes team-mate in the Drivers’ Championship standings heading into a sprint weekend in Qatar. However, all is not rosy in the Silver Arrows’ camp with some signs of friction appearing between the pair.
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Addressing the rivalry on the F1 Nation podcast, Pinkham said: “What’s interesting is the dynamic between the seven-time World Champion in Lewis Hamilton and George Russell. OK, he’s no longer a rookie, he’s kind of more established in the team now. But I find it really interesting because, at some point, there’s going to be a changing of the guard on that team.
“How hard does Russell push it now, in order to sort of gain authority, gain acceptance? Obviously that mistake in Singapore, he said himself: ‘What am I, a rookie?’ That was a mistake that felt [like] inexperience, it didn’t feel like a mistake that Lewis would make.
“So I feel that George is keen to assert himself at the moment, he wants to forget Singapore and say, ‘You know what, I can be a team leader’. There’s no doubt that he can, he’s just not quite to the level of Lewis yet. But, at some point, there’s going to be a sort of handing over of the baton, if you like.”
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After close calls on track between Hamilton and Russell in both Spain and Belgium earlier this season and more radio frustrations from the latter in Japan last time out, it is clear that Russell isn’t afraid of getting his elbows out with the seven-time world champion.
Russell joined Mercedes as the clear successor to the seven-time world champion, happy to spend a couple of seasons as his understudy before leading the time. Hamilton’s longevity, however, is a hindrance to this plan.
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