Lewis Hamilton is reclaiming his position as the top driver at Mercedes, according to David Coulthard, who has been closely monitoring the British duo’s performance this season.
The interest in their intra-team dynamic stems from their first campaign as teammates, which saw George Russell, previously with Williams, outperform Hamilton in several races and finish ahead of him in the overall standings.
Despite Mercedes facing challenges this year, Hamilton has consistently outscored Russell and currently holds a 37-point advantage over his partner.
For Coulthard, this shift in performance indicates that Hamilton has regained his status as the team’s main driver.
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Speaking on his Formula For Success podcast, Coulthard stated: “We gave [Russell] warning of ‘be careful of getting ahead of yourself’ because Lewis, when he is on form, is a formidable teammate.
“We have definitely seen a turning of the tide, in terms of Lewis looking pretty sharp. There’s this spring in his voice when he’s talking to the team.”
Coulthard hosts the podcast alongside former F1 team owner Eddie Jordan, who agreed with his fellow host’s assessment.
While acknowledging Russell’s exceptional talent and potential as a future world champion, Jordan expressed his initial concerns but commended Russell for exceeding expectations.
“I was super concerned. However, George has absolutely surpassed everything I thought he could be, and he is a brilliant potential future world champion,” he said.
“If he is in the right position and the right car, he has got everything.
“Lewis has upped his game, however.
“He has found his mojo again.
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“He drove a good tactical race [in Canada], giving the car the best chance.”
The performance dynamics within Mercedes have clearly shifted this season, with Hamilton demonstrating his determination to reclaim his position as the team’s top driver.
While Russell’s talent and potential are acknowledged, Hamilton’s resurgence and consistent scoring have placed him ahead in the intra-team battle.