Lewis Hamilton Slapped With “Maximum Penalty” as George Russell Comes up Trumps in Heavyweight Battle

Formula 1 drivers are generally known to have a big ego. But this is a part and parcel of the game. To succeed in a cutthroat sport such as this, one must always believe they are the best. These drivers have been trained to operate like this since childhood. Naturally, it’s imbibed into their DNA at this point. Hence, when things don’t go their way, the price they pay emotionally and mentally is a steep one. Lewis Hamilton is currently on the unfortunate end of this spectrum.

Ever since he lost out on his 8th world title in 2021, things haven’t been the same for the 38-year-old. Mercedes have dropped down the pecking order, and another championship bid is a distant dream as of now. But to add insult to injury, the 7x champion has found yet another nemesis to usurp his throne, and this time it is from within the four walls of the Silver Arrows.

George Russell may have broken Lewis Hamilton

The young rookie who once schooled Fernando Alonso sees the tables turning now. With a young George Russell breathing down his neck, Hamilton has nowhere to hide. And the fact that someone can really outclass the Brit may have finally caught up to him during the Miami GP weekend.

During the entire weekend, Russell always had the measure of Hamilton, be it in Qualifying, the Race, or even the strategy. And if this was not enough for Hamilton, Ralf Schumacher has come out with a scathing analysis of the whole weekend. He was quoted by Express UK as saying, “In Miami, he landed behind his team-mate George Russell. This is a maximum penalty for Hamilton.”

Read More: “DR Will Never Race”: F1 World Turn Their Backs on Daniel Ricciardo as Rumored Red Bull F1 Vacancy Gets a New Suitor

A lot of shells have been dropping on to Mercedes for this inter-team power struggle, but where does it leave Hamilton and Russell, teammates-wise?

Toto Wolff reveals post-Miami mood in the camp

During the race, Hamilton was asked to move over for his teammate Russell. This was because the young Brit was on a different, and superior, strategy to that of Hamilton. That must have really hurt the multiple-time champion’s pride.

After the race, however, Toto Wolff came out saying, “George was a stop ahead. To see two teammates, both on very good levels, they are both so straightforward. That is good at such a difficult moment,” while addressing the whole incident of Hamilton making way for Russell.

WATCH THIS STORY: Bromance moments between Max Verstappen & Lewis Hamilton

Can Lewis Hamilton reclaim the top spot within Mercedes, or will Russell topple him as the undisputed team leader?