Lewis Hamilton insinuated that Mercedes may have favored George Russell based on his recent comments. The start of the 2024 season has been challenging for the Mercedes team, mainly due to difficulties with the ground effect era. However, Russell’s performances have stood out on several occasions, leading fans to speculate that the Silver Arrows’ chassis was adjusted to give him an advantage. Mercedes’ technical director denied these rumors.
Russell’s improvement in performance this season, including a pole position and podium finishes, has led many to believe that the chassis played a significant role. However, it has been clarified that Hamilton did not face any systematic disadvantage during qualifying in Canada, as some claimed.
It has been confirmed that the cars and power units used by both drivers are identical, with no differences. The only variations come from the drivers themselves and the team of engineers working with them. Therefore, the challenger’s performance during the weekend is solely determined by the drivers, without any interference from the Mercedes team.
Hamilton’s continuous experimentation with his chassis settings inadvertently affected his performance, while Russell maintained a consistent configuration that suited him. However, the option to choose the same configuration as Russell was available to the Silver Arrows, should they desire it.
There was only one occasion when the drivers had a different front wing configuration on their cars. This occurred due to a lack of parts, and Hamilton allowed Russell to decide which car the new front wing would be installed on. Additionally, the chassis remained the same throughout the period.
The Mercedes is still striving to compete for the championship as the season progresses. The updates during the season have shown improved performance in recent races, and the team is dedicated to refining the chassis and bringing the best possible updates to compete against rival teams.
