Lewis Hamilton silenced George Russell’s claims after the Las Vegas Grand Prix.
Seven-time F1 world champion Lewis Hamilton has bounced back from a slump in 2022 to reassert his position as Mercedes’ number one this season.
Lewis Hamilton says he continues to prove he is Mercedes’ number one driver and that his younger teammate will take his place after finishing ahead of teammate George Russell again at the Las Vegas Grand Prix Stopped rumors.
The seven-time world champion has scored more points than his compatriot in all three races since being disqualified from last month’s American Grand Prix.
In Sin City, 38-year-old Hamilton scored six points, two more than his teammate, after Russell received a five-second time penalty.
This means the 25-year-old finished eighth, one place behind his team-mate, despite a late surge to finish fourth behind Max Verstappen, Charles Leclerc and Sergio Perez.
This penalty was given after contact with eventual race winner Verstappen on lap 25.
Russell took full responsibility for the contact, saying after the race that it was “totally my fault.
” It has been a frustrating few weeks for him since he was forced to retire early during the Brazilian Grand Prix due to the risk of an impending drive unit failure.
Hamilton struggled with his speed but stayed on course and finished 8th.
This was a big difference from the Mexican Grand Prix a week ago, where the veteran finished second behind Verstappen.
Meanwhile, Russell was sixth, about 30 seconds behind his Mercedes teammate.
Meanwhile, Russell finished on the podium at the Spanish Grand Prix alongside Esteban Ocon and Pierre Gasly in Apline, finishing second, one place ahead of Hamilton.
Ferrari’s Leclerc (5 times) and Sainz (3 times) and McLaren’s Oscar Piastri (2 times) are other drivers who have finished on the podium this season.
If Hamilton continues to get the best out of his team-mates, this could put an end to previous speculation that Russell would unseat Hamilton.
Hamilton was expected to relinquish his position as number one driver last year, with former world champion Jacques Vierneuve suggesting the team was facing a power shift.
After the 2022 Dutch Grand Prix, former world champion Jacques Villeneuve scolded Hamilton for failing to pit for a tire change, giving Red Bull an advantage.
He said at the time: “We are seeing changes at Mercedes.
George Russell is rapidly becoming the leader of the team.
” He made the decision for soft tires himself.
Hamilton could have done the same with his experience and championships.
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