There have been comparisons drawn between this season’s Mercedes inter-team battle and the pattern observed in 2022, when Russell started strongly but Hamilton eventually gained a slight pace advantage as the car improved throughout the campaign.
However, Russell believes that Hamilton’s recent improved results are masking his ongoing struggles with the car. Speaking after an eighth-place finish in Saturday’s sprint race at the Red Bull Ring, Russell addressed the notion of Hamilton’s increased comfort with the revised car.
“I don’t think so. It’s just one of those things, you sort of get into a bit of a groove, a bit of a rhythm,” Russell told Sky Sports F1. “Lewis is still struggling a lot with the car. I think it’s just more that I’ve taken a bit of a step backwards. I have some ideas why that is, but it’s fine details.”
