Mercedes’ position in the championship has suffered a decline since the arrival of George Russell. The start of the 2024 season has been disappointing for the Mercedes team, and their hopes of ending the season on a high in Brackley seem far from reality. Furthermore, Russell continues to outperform his teammate, who is a seven-time world champion, leading many to believe that Mercedes’ decision to hire Russell in 2022 has had a negative impact on Hamilton’s career.
Russell was hired by Mercedes in 2022, shortly after Hamilton controversially lost the title at the 2021 Abu Dhabi GP. This change coincided with a turning point in Mercedes’ journey in F1 during the ground effect era. In his first year in Brackley, Russell surpassed his teammate, further diminishing the 39-year-old driver’s chances of winning more world championships in F1.
Peter Windsor wasted no time in criticizing Mercedes’ misguided decision. The commentator believed that Toto Wolff’s acquisition of George Russell in 2022 was a deliberate attempt to sabotage Hamilton’s career. Russell was one of the best teammates who helped the 39-year-old driver achieve victories and good results. However, the decision to bring in the 26-year-old driver ultimately led to Brackley’s failure during the ground effect era.
The 2021 Abu Dhabi GP marked Mercedes’ closest approach to the title in the last three years. However, during the ground effect era, the team only managed to win one race in the previous two seasons. The Mercedes team also failed to secure a victory in the 2024 season. As a result, the German manufacturer remains disappointed with its performance.
Peter Windsor believed that the 2021 Abu Dhabi GP should have been a turning point for the team. Despite losing the championship, Mercedes had the potential for a strong comeback. However, the hiring of Russell ended up becoming a nightmare for the team, especially for Hamilton. Windsor argued that Mercedes could have achieved much more after the 2021 season.
However, Brackley remains determined to improve its performance as the season progresses. Mercedes has implemented improvements to the chassis throughout the season in hopes of achieving better results. However, the German automaker has already lost a significant number of points in the race for the 2024 world championship season.
