Is George Russell taking over at Mercedes?

Facts : Despite a recalcitrant W13, George Russell made a solid debut with Mercedes, finishing in the top 5 in the first four rounds of the season. At Imola, he finished 4th, when his teammate was only 13th. He also has a twenty-one point lead over Lewis Hamilton, and generally seems more comfortable than his elder. Enough to consider that he is taking power within the Brackley stable? 

YES, by Valentin Glo

Fourth at Imola, George Russell has once again inherited the role of savior of the Brackley team. After an unexpected podium for the season opener in Bahrain, Lewis Hamilton seems to be suffering as much as his W13 is suffering its problems. For three Grands Prix, he has been the former Williams which produces the most consistent results. Despite a failed car, the Briton always finished in the top 5 this year. At the same time, his seven-time world champion teammate struggled to finish in the points in Jeddah, a result he did not even manage to obtain this weekend in Imola.

An eighth title lost in circumstances that we all know and a car unable to win a race and even less to challenge for the top places in the championship seem to have got the better of Lewis Hamilton's usual resilience. The Englishman gives the impression of dragging his spleen around the paddock, the interviews becoming ever more laconic as the poor performances are repeated, despite a speech where he advocates unity and confidence in his team, including in response to apologies Toto wolff on the radio at the checkered flag of the Emilia-Romagna Grand Prix.

On the track, it is his young teammate who assumes the role of leader of the Silver Arrows. Certainly, George Russell has benefited for two weekends from racing hazards which have worked in his favor, with a Safety Car offering him a free stop in Melbourne synonymous with a first podium with Mercedes. At Imola, the native of King's Lynn took advantage of a chaotic start on a wet track then the mistake of Charles Leclerc. A success previously attributed to his illustrious garage neighbor. If even this has changed sides, would the leadership also be changing in Brackley? Especially since no one in the German team is used to having to deal with a car in difficulty, apart from Russell who cut his teeth at the back of the grid at Williams. It is now up to him to guide a team that he must make his own for the seasons to come.

NO, by Jérémy Satis

There is a major difference between achieving exceptional performance and taking power in a team. Obviously, George Russell is the author of a superb start to the season, with four top 5 finishes and 21 points more than his teammate in the scoreboard. But four small races, what's more in the middle of a delicate period for Mercedes, ultimately don't amount to much. There Formula 1 is a highly political discipline, and Mercedes surely the most politicized team on the grid. Thus, it will take a lot more for Russell to take power in Brackley, and fortunately so. Statuses that have been in place for several years cannot be undone in a few weeks.

And then, without taking anything away from George Russell, what have we seen so far? From an accounting standpoint, George is doing much better than his legendary compatriot, that's a fact. But does it really evolve on another planet? No. In qualifying, the two men are 2-2. And it's not like Russell is going a second faster per lap in the race. If he beat Hamilton in Melbourne, it was mainly thanks to the intervention of the safety car which gave him a free pit stop. Otherwise, he was behind, like in Bahrain. At Imola, Russell finished nine places ahead, but that was more due to Hamilton being stuck in the pack more than a difference in pace.

And then nothing in the young man's speech suggests for a second that the former Williams driver himself wishes to take power. It's not for nothing that he harps all day long that Hamilton is the greatest driver of all time. Lewis Hamilton didn't become bad in the space of a few months. The seven-time world champion is simply true to himself. He is as irresistible when victory is within reach as he is sulky and detached when the car is parked.

Remember in 2009, after his first world title, his McLaren was dropped at the start of the season, and that didn't stop him from coming back and securing five podiums in the last eight races. Russell can be proud of his debut at Mercedes, but he is not boasting because he knows: when the car is up to standard and he smells the smell of victory, Hamilton will probably come back like a bullet. Make no mistake, at Mercedes, the boss is (always) Hamilton!

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