Russell counters Hamilton's inequality claim: 'we get the same treatment'
F1 News
In Monaco, Lewis Hamilton stated that he might not beat George Russell in qualifying in 2024, suggesting that Russell was the preferred driver at Mercedes. Russell then said that Hamilton 'knows very well' that both drivers are treated the same at Mercedes, and that there there is no advantage for either of them. Once again, Russell has stressed that both Mercedes drivers are equal at the team, and Mercedes is not favouring him, despite outqualifying Hamilton 8-2 across the season.
During the Monaco Grand Prix weekend, Hamilton hinted that he might no longer be faster than Russell in qualifying during this Formula 1 season. The seven-time world champion attributed this largely to the new front wing Russell was driving with. The team confirmed that talks had been held with both drivers and that Hamilton agreed to let Russell use the front wing first, as only one was available. Since the Canadian GP, both drivers have been driving with the new part, and in Spain, Hamilton was narrowly faster than Russell in qualifying.
Russell: Hamilton knows 'full well that we get the same treatment'
Russell doesn't believe that his teammate meant what he said in Monaco. "I think that was probably comments in the heat of the moment because he knows full well that we get the same treatment," the Mercedes driver said in conversation with Channel 4.
"Lewis is a winner, and of course these years have been frustrating for all of us, but especially for him. He’s been used to winning every single season he competes in, and hasn’t won in three years. So as I said, it’s frustrating for him, it’s frustrating for all of us, but I’m sure he didn’t mean it as it came across," concluded Russell.