George Russell crossed the finish line ahead of Lewis Hamilton, despite the seven-time world champion displaying superior pace at times. So, how did the British driver make the difference? Let’s find out.
Lewis Hamilton’s Achilles’ heel in 2024 and a surprise: the decisive factors
The first factor to highlight is undoubtedly the qualifying result. Despite Lewis Hamilton showing strong pace from Friday, he only managed to qualify tenth on the grid due to a double mistake in Q3.
Throughout this season, Lewis Hamilton has struggled to find the right balance with his Mercedes, while George Russell has been more consistent.
Starting from pole position significantly aided George Russell, especially in tire management, which was the second key area where he outperformed his teammate.
The gap George Russell built in the opening laps allowed him to control the race comfortably, without taking any risks. Lewis Hamilton, on the other hand, had to push harder and wear out his tires more as he fought his way back through the field. He also made a minor error in the final laps while giving his all in an attempt to win the race.
In summary, Mercedes achieved their best team result since the 2022 Brazilian GP in Las Vegas, but Lewis Hamilton cannot be entirely satisfied. It remains to be seen whether the qualifying struggles that have plagued him all year will be resolved before his winter switch to Ferrari.
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