Since time immemorial, one of the key conflicts humanity has faced is the battle for succession. It can play out within kingdoms, corporate boardrooms and families. Sport is no exception to this phenomenon.
Key Factors
But in the first three years, the 28-year-old did have the opportunity to go toe-to-toe with the sport’s most successful driver in Hamilton. In 2024, Russell out-qualified Hamilton 19-5, underlining his searing pace. The result: Russell is now 50 points behind Antonelli and third in the standings behind even Hamilton, who won his first race for Ferrari in Barcelona. Russell’s strength has been his one-lap pace, but so far this year, he trails 3-4 in qualifying. Mercedes has been the most consistent, and he’s got an advantage (40 points), and I think that he’s still on a learning curve.
Because i think that he’s got the equipment, “I think the favourite is Kimi. It was here that Russell proved his worth as a potential champion, getting the better of his illustrious teammate in two out of their three seasons together. Diverging fortunes: Even as matters began to unravel for Russell between the second and sixth rounds, Antonelli went on a winning run. | Photo Credit: Getty Images Russell is yet to step onto the top step of the podium after Melbourne, while his teammate went on a five-race winning streak. Things started going downhill for Russell in the second race in China where a technical issue compromised his qualifying. Though he recovered to qualify second, he got mugged at the start by the Ferraris and had to fight his way back to second, allowing his colleague to take his maiden win. In Japan, a Safety Car intervention led to him being jumped by Antonelli. While a large part of the points difference is down to factors beyond his control, the recent dip in performance is the more alarming sign. Fortunately for Russell, he has more time to get things back on track. And it is often how one responds under pressure that determines how good one is. Can Russell show that he is a worthy successor to the line of Mercedes champions? Russell takes back second in the standings from Hamilton with his seventh career win and cuts Antonelli’s lead to 40points. So George (Russell) has got a mountain to climb, I think, to rein him in. I’m not saying he can’t do it, but I think from what I’ve seen this guy is something else.
So we’ll see,” said Hill ahead of this weekend’s British Grand Prix.
In fact, he can take a lesson from Norris’ title-winning run last year, in which the latter was behind McLaren teammate Oscar Piastri until late in the season before turning the tables in the final stretch.
