Unbroadcast Mercedes radio highlights key difference between Lewis Hamilton and George Russell in 2024

George Russell extended his advantage over Mercedes teammate Lewis Hamilton at the Las Vegas Grand Prix last weekend. Russell led the team’s first one-two finish since Brazil 2022.

The former Williams driver had also crossed the line first at Spa in July after resisting Hamilton’s offensive. But Russell was disqualified for breaching the weight limit, so the sister car inherited victory.

In Las Vegas, the 27-year-old was braced for something else to go wrong. He started his home race at Silverstone on pole in the summer before rain cost him the lead and a mechanical issue led to his retirement.

This time, though, nothing could stop Russell. Charles Leclerc wrecked his tyres challenging the number 63 car in the early laps, and that allowed him to build a commanding lead.

Hamilton, who had mounted a commendable charge from 10th to second, relentlessly chipped away at his cushion after the second pit stops. But Russell was in management mode and had pace in reserve if he needed it.

The gap between the two is only eight points ahead of the second leg in the triple-header in Qatar, but form very much favours Russell. Since the summer break, he’s outscored Hamilton 101-58.

Lewis Hamilton lacked the same conviction as George Russell at Las Vegas Grand Prix

Russell’s advantage has been particularly pronounced in qualifying. By taking pole in Vegas, he extended his lead to an eye-catching 17-5.

Hamilton had set the pace in Q2 but made two errors in Q3, which meant he didn’t set a representative time. That condemned him to 10th on the grid.

In an unbroadcast radio exchange during qualifying – relayed by Auto Motor und Sport’s Michael Schmidt – Hamilton debated tyre pressure changes with his engineers. This is one of the few areas drivers are allowed to adjust under parc ferme conditions.

Schmidt wonders if this cost Hamilton his ‘rhythm’ before his Q3 blunders. As the seven-time world champion continued to experiment, Russell placed total faith in his engineers, which sums up the main difference between the two this season.

“It was just a question of who got pole position – Russell or Hamilton,” Schmidt said. “Suddenly he [Hamilton] started to discuss with his engineers, tyre pressure up or tyre pressure down? Russell relied on his engineers. He just kept driving.

“[Hamilton] got out of rhythm. He then suddenly oversteered, which can’t happen on this route. He then said in his interviews he couldn’t explain it. The rear came around in a few corners, and that was actually the defeat against George Russell.”

Mercedes radio messages disprove ‘held back’ theory from Lewis Hamilton’s family

Peter Windsor feels Mercedes hurt Hamilton by sending him out in traffic. But it’s the team’s policy to swap the order each race weekend.

If Hamilton goes out first one week, Russell will do so the next. They both receive equal treatment in that sense.

But some have questioned whether that’s the case. Family and friends feel Mercedes are holding Hamilton back ‘deliberately’ this year before he joins Ferrari.

His sharp qualifying drop-off in Vegas would have fuelled conspiracy theories. But the radio messages offer a potential explanation, with Hamilton desperately trying to reach the relative comfort zone Russell discovered long ago.