Tough to swallow: How Canada 2024 shaped mixed views on the Mercedes duo.
The 2024 Canadian Grand Prix offered a storm of on-track action: lightning bolt overtakes, thunderous pole battles, and plenty of rain. However, it also provided a much more social and fascination aspect beyond what appeared on television; a glimpse into the changing dynamics towards the Mercedes team, giving spotlight to its drivers, Lewis Hamilton and George Russell. As Formula 1 fans and media alike began to analyse the performance of the team at Canada, the differences in reactions became clear. Hamilton, a seasoned veteran and multiple-time world champion, continues to chase the next victory, however, too often falls at the first hurdle finishing at an average of P9 this season. Meanwhile, Russell, the future first driver of the team, is carving out his own niche, capturing every opportunity possible to prove his talent for the future of the team. So, how has the 2024 Canadian Grand Prix highlighted the diverging responses?
Lewis Hamilton and George Russell represent two distinct eras within the Mercedes team. Hamilton, a seven-time world champion, has cemented his legacy alongside Michael Schumacher, Alain Prost, Ayrton Senna, and Sebastian Vettel. His career, marked by numerous victories, pole positions, and records, has made him a household name and a benchmark for excellence in the sport. Known for his precision, experience, and history, Hamilton’s presence on the grid commands respect from competitors and viewers alike. In contrast, George Russell is at the dawn of what promises to be an illustrious career. Since joining Mercedes in 2022, Russell has shown flashes of brilliance, combining raw speed with a growing maturity and tyre management. His performance in the 2024 season has been particularly noteworthy, with several strong finishes that highlight his ability to outqualify Hamilton. As a young driver in a top team, Russell carries the weight of high expectations and the hope of a new generation of fans.
As the weekend begun, fans of the team were palpable with anticipation, hoping that this would be the race for Mercedes, the grand return. With the driver line-up, Mercedes covered all aspects of knowledge. Hamilton, with his years of experience at the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve and lifetimes of races in downpour like that of Canada, was fans ticket to the top, expected to deliver a top performance. For Russell, the focus was on his ability to challenge the established order and attempt to outshine his veteran teammate in another race. His recent performances had built up considerable excitement within his supporters, with many eager to see if he could continue his upward trajectory and find himself a second race win. However, the one factor that seemed to control everything was the weather. What did this mean for the W15 which has never performed under these conditions?
The 2024 Canadian Grand Prix presented both Lewis Hamilton and George Russell (along with the rest of the grid) with a complex set of challenges, as wet conditions added an extra layer of unpredictability to the race. As the lights went out, Russell, who started in pole position, led into turn 1, making work of the inters. Known for his prowess in the rain, Hamilton made quick work to overtake Alonso. George Russell, despite his relative inexperience compared to Hamilton, showed impressive skill in the treacherous conditions. His aggressive yet calculated driving style allowed him to hold off Verstappen and Norris for several laps right off the line. Russell's ability to adapt quickly to the changing conditions and hold on strong with his tyre management was a testament to his growing maturity as a driver. Both drivers were limited by the weather, however, this didn’t put a stop to the two drivers battling it out at the very end. As Hamilton’s experience brought him to the front, Russell found himself behind his teammate, though, only for a short while as his calculated yet risky driving allowed for a brave yet successful overtake, securing P3 for Russell and P4 for Hamilton. Both drivers delivered strong performances, but the race underscored their distinct approaches and the different reactions they evoke from fans and media alike.
In the aftermath of the 2024 Canadian Grand Prix, both Lewis Hamilton and George Russell provided insightful reflections on their respective performances. Hamilton, although finishing P4 described his experience as “One of my worst drives” claiming that the pockets of speed were not consistent enough. Fans of the sport turned to social media to battle out their opinions on who was the villain of the team at Canada.
Reactions were telling. Two groups emerged: “teamlh” and strong George Russell supporters. Russell supporters openly admit that they feel the treatment of the driver by Mercedes social media team and by ‘teamlh’ is becoming tiring: “The 2 years of abuse thrown at your own driver (and the whole team) by a certain fanbase has never once been called out.” claimed some on twitter. However, this doesn’t seem to stop ‘teamlh’ who, like Russell supporters, are vocal about their opinions: “Cope and cry with the fact that George is absolutely nowhere every single Sunday.” It is no surprise that passionate people have passionate opinions, however, Canada 2024 seems to have grown out of hand. Loyalty to a driver is not unreasonable, but it seems that a bigger force is at play. Perhaps a sense of betrayal from the team that Hamilton once called home has impacted his fans, or a relief that the focus is starting to hover over Russell.
The behaviour between fans of the drivers seems reflective of the civil war between Rosberg and Hamilton in 2016. Both want the same goal: success. Something that Mercedes once knew so well, but now seems like a distant memory. It boils down to frustration, that is what drives this entire fight between Mercedes supporters. Canada’s role in this is simply a reminder of that distant success for the team, some are happy that it came from Russell, some are frustrated that it was almost Hamilton.
Title photo belongs to The Telegraph.
