“Cheeky Merc Fight…?”: Lewis Hamilton & George Russell Set the Bar High As Fans Place Heavy Expectations On Mercedes’ Shoulders

If the Brazilian GP sprint is something to go by, the race is going to be an overtaking carnival. The exciting sprint race saw similar action to the 2021 edition race. We saw a Red Bull being chased by a Mercedes with a slight change in personnel. Max Verstappen was defending his lead, but it wasn’t Lewis Hamilton doing the chasing.

Verstappen started the overtaking party on the Interlagos track. However, the Dutchman, on medium compound tires, soon became prey to Russell on soft slicks. The Red Bull man held his position for the first three overtaking attempts by Russell.

However, Russell made the move stick with the combination of DRS and slipstream on the 15th lap of the 100km dash. The relentless approach from Russell paid off as he will start the race from the front. The second ‘pole’ position of the season and his career for the young Brit could very well become the first win of his career.

However, there are plenty of things to celebrate in the Mercedes garage, apart from Russell’s performance. His teammate, the seven-time world champion, continued his brilliant form in his second home. Hamilton started the sprint in eighth but crossed the finish line in third.

Read More: Despite George Russell’s Dominant Season, Lewis Hamilton Considered ‘The Man’ to Get Mercedes Back to the Top

On Sunday, he will further see an upgrade to P2 with Carlos Sainz’s grid penalty in place. This will be the first Mercedes 1-2 of the season and it is all to play for in the upcoming race.

George Russell and Lewis Hamilton lock the front row in Brazil and fans can’t keep calm

The rewarding performance from the Mercedes men will see them race it out tomorrow. The first 1-2 start of the season could even result in the first win of the season. This is an exciting prospect for the team, especially after their harrowing start to the season.

The excitement that the Mercedes fans are echoing on Twitter.

Fans, for obvious reasons, showcased their excitement about Russell’s individual performance. However, after the flurry of emotions, they also started looking at the bigger picture.

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Whilst taking nothing away from Russell’s incredible performance during the sprint, the fans also celebrated Hamilton’s result. It was a masterclass that saw him jump from eighth to third and then second for his troubles.

First win of the season incoming for Mercedes? Who are you rooting for? Or will Verstappen spoil the Mercedes party? The race can’t come soon enough!