George Russell can’t argue against Lewis Hamilton status in Mercedes hierarchy, says Anthony Davidson

Mercedes teammates Lewis Hamilton and George Russell have engaged in wheel-to-wheel battles in each of the last two races; Sky Sports F1’s Anthony Davidson says Russell would be louder if Hamilton wasn’t a seven-time world champion

George Russell “can’t argue” with teammate Lewis Hamilton who has a higher status in the Mercedes hierarchy, according to Sky Sports F1’s Anthony Davidson.

The Silver Arrows duo have struggled on track in each of the last two races, with Russell briefly irritated by the match at Sunday’s Japanese Grand Prix.

Russell impressively defeated Hamilton in his debut season with the team last year, but the seven-time world champion has hit back to move ahead of his teammate by 75 points with six races remaining in 2023.

While Russell is never shy about making suggestions over team radio, Davidson suspects Hamilton’s legendary status within the sport – and at Mercedes – plays a role in the younger driver’s respectful and ‘polite’ approach to communication.

“There’s definitely a hierarchy on that team,” Davidson told the newspaper Sky Sports F1 podcast. “Rightly so. You know, Lewis has earned that status on that team as a seven-time world champion, and George can’t argue with that.

“George is still the understudy and he does very well when he has the speed above Lewis to really compete.

“But he does it in such a George Russell polite way, which is quite humorous to see, because I know he’ll be smoking and steaming in the car.

“And that’s why we see the near misses, the drivers almost crashing into each other, almost making contact, but he’s also a good boy on the radio, he’s very British about it.

“And there are layers to him, to the annoyance, I think. It always comes across as, ‘I’m okay with this, but if you would please, very happily, let me through on the next few opportunities,’ I would be greatly appreciated.”

“And we might hear a little louder if things were different. But I think for now he knows where he is on the team.”

After scoring eight podium finishes in his first season at Mercedes, including the team’s only win in 2022, Russell has made just one top three in his second season.

The 25-year-old looked on course to add a second before a dramatic crash on the final lap in Singapore handed Hamilton a fifth podium of his campaign.

Having recently signed contract extensions, both Hamilton and Russell are committed to the team until the end of the 2025 season.

“He (Russell) knows he has the speed. We all see it from the outside too,” Davidson added.

“Lewis sticks out his elbows when necessary. I’m really intrigued by this battle and seeing how George is developing as a driver and how Lewis is in the final years of his career.

“To see this young, hard-working driver in George really threaten him because of his speed and consistency, and it’s great to see Lewis getting stuck into that too.”

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