George Russell breaks rank and follows Lewis Hamilton's suit after Mercedes sack warning

Lewis Hamilton precocious slated the show of his car, but George Russell has besides followed suit, contempt an earlier informing astir the dangers of doing so

George Russell has followed Lewis Hamilton's pb and slated the show of Mercedes' car - contempt a caller informing that helium could beryllium sacked for doing so.

Russell, 26, and Hamilton, 39, person some struggled to support gait with Max Verstappen and Lando Norris astatine the apical of the F1 standings. Hamilton has been peculiarly captious of his motor, precocious blasting it by comparing it to a "plank of wood".

However, Russell has followed suit, claiming the car is arsenic unpredictable arsenic it has ever been since his accomplishment successful 2022. Former F1 brag Guenther Steiner precocious issued a informing to Russell, claiming Hamilton's upcoming determination to Ferrari gives him the luxury of being truthful vocally captious without suffering immoderate repercussions.

Meanwhile, helium believes Russell's presumption is not truthful unafraid and advised the King's Lyn autochthonal to not publically lambast his team. Despite those caller warnings, Russell had plentifulness to get disconnected his chest.

Russell said: “I deliberation successful 2022, successful the benignant of porpoising era, without uncertainty that was acold much unpleasant. But due to the fact that of the quality of those cars, it was acold harder to get adjacent to the bounds due to the fact that you were virtually jumping astir each azygous corner, and you knew that it was going to wound you.”

He added: "The occupation we've got with this car astatine the infinitesimal is you deliberation it's not going to wound you, and you tin execute a truly large lap. Then, abruptly thing changes, oregon you consciousness thing changes, and the pursuing thigh you suffer each of that performance.

"Without a uncertainty this is astir apt the astir inconsistent our show has been arsenic a squad successful astir apt forever.”

Before the summertime break, Mercedes enjoyed a beardown tally of signifier which saw them triumph 3 retired of 4 races. In the past 7 races, they person lone secured 1 podium decorativeness and Russell and Hamilton person dropped down to sixth and seventh successful the F1 standings.

Steiner did not disagree with Hamilton and Russell connected the show of the car, stating that it is trailing down different teams. But arsenic Mercedes is inactive yet to determine connected what beingness without Hamilton volition look like, the erstwhile Haas brag thinks Russell would beryllium omniscient to support immoderate antagonistic opinions to himself.

Speaking connected the Red Flag podcast, Steiner said: "The car is what it is. It’s not the champion car, it’s the 4th champion car astatine the infinitesimal connected a bully day. I deliberation Lewis knowing that he’s leaving anyway, it’s easier to complain.

"George has got each the involvement to bash to immoderate is determination to amusement that he’s the person of the squad for the future. He has to beryllium that, due to the fact that helium knows that due to the fact that helium knows that erstwhile his Mercedes declaration is up, his spot is not 100 per-cent harmless truthful helium conscionable tries to bash his best, puts everything into it. And connected the different side, Lewis doesn’t similar the car and however it drives, knows that present successful 3 races he’s not determination anymore.”

Despite the evident uncertainty, Russell is not disquieted astir his future. When asked by reporters, helium replied: "It’s thing we’ve not spoken astir astatine each to beryllium honest.

"I’ve been with this squad for truthful so long, I’m managed by Mercedes, and we’ve ever said we volition beryllium continuing unneurotic for the indefinite future. There’s a batch of conversations going connected which are rather entertaining to read, but from my side, I’m not focused connected immoderate of that. I’m conscionable focused connected my driving."