Mercedes team mates 🏎

The Mercedes car is difficult again this season. They're a long way from Red Bull's pace. But of their two drivers, Russell seems less bothered by it that Hamilton. In commentary, Coulthard said this is the best car that Russell has ever had, whereas Hamilton is used to a car that can win. They are coming at the problem from different head spaces.

Hamilton's been around for long enough that he knows how far away they are, and he seems dispirited by that. There's only so much that he can do to make up for the deficiencies. He's getting near the end of his career, and it's quite possible that he'll not have another car good enough for a championship before he retires. But Russell is going to be a round for longer. He's doing a good job against a team mate with extraordinary stats. If the car comes good he knows that he can challenge. And if it doesn't, he's going to have other teams interested.

How much does it matter how they're thinking? Russell's ahead on qualifying, but behind on points, where it counts.

Meanwhile, the team is said to have big upgrades coming. That might be so, but lots of teams say that, and not many take a big step forward.

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