Hamilton F1 rival reveals key factor in fierce on-track battles

Hamilton’s F1 challenger reveals key elements of the fierce on-track battle.

George Russell insisted there was “trust” between him and Mercedes team-mate Lewis Hamilton during the on-track battle.

The pair faced questions about the effectiveness of the Silver Arrows’ driving line-up in several matches of the 2023 season. Despite a fast performance that helped Mercedes secure second place in the constructors’ championship, failures on track raised concerns of a potential loss of points.

A close call in qualifying for the Spanish Grand Prix and a heated battle at Suzuka added to the tension, with Russell voicing his frustration on team radio. But despite the difficulties along the way, the Mercedes camp maintained internal harmony. Things have changed in Qatar. Hamilton’s attempt to pass Russell for second resulted in poor judgement, bringing Hamilton’s race to an untimely end. “I think it’s normal to be very close in terms of performance, [and] if you do the same lap times or start each other on the grid, you’re always going to be close,” Russell said. car sports.

“We always discuss strategy during our meetings. The speed difference between us is zero. We always have a 24 race season with an average number of laps per race of 60 laps. We cross paths a lot, he’s the driver I see the most. So I think I tied it to that. I think we trust each other. “There can be honest moments and it can be difficult, but we trust each other. We know how to give each other enough space to fight and not overdo it. “Obviously there was a bit of a misunderstanding at the Qatar round, which was another opportunity to miss out on another podium and possibly a win.