George Russell is currently stealing the show from Lewis Hamilton at Mercedes. Former Formula 1 driver Marc Surer is certain that the balance of power in the Silver Arrows is due to the weakening cars, among other things.
At the Azerbaijan Grand Prix, George Russell (3rd) again crossed the finish line ahead of his teammate Lewis Hamilton (4th). In the drivers’ standings, the new Mercedes signing is now 37 points ahead of the record world champion. According to Marc Surer, however, this circumstance depends, among other things, on the performance of the W13.
“Russell’s advantage is that he drove a crappy car at Williams for three years,” said the Swiss in “AvD Motormagazin” on “Sport1”. During his time at the traditional racing team, the 24-year-old learned to “make compromises”.
“You just beat the car around the track and that works somehow. That’s exactly what he’s doing now with the Mercedes,” Surer analyzed the strong performances of the young Briton.
“And Lewis Hamilton is spoiled. He has always driven a perfect car,” said the 70-year-old, on the other hand, looking at the long-standing Formula 1 dominator.
Surer sure: Hamilton is coming back
But Surer didn’t want to write off the record champion for a long time. “The moment the Mercedes is capable of winning again, Lewis Hamilton’s class will come back,” predicted the Swiss. Hamilton is a driver who “can make a perfect car even more perfect,” said Surer.
But the W13 is still a long way from that. In particular, the so-called “bouncing” effect, in which the cars start hopping on the straights, continues to make the Silver Arrows acutely concerned. “Then the teammate, who doesn’t care, is faster. But as soon as the car starts moving again, Lewis is back,” said Surer.
Hamilton can narrow the gap to Russell at the Canadian Grand Prix this weekend.