George Russell reacts to Lewis Hamilton’s ‘weird’ mistake at the US Grand Prix

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Mercedes have made major changes to their car ahead of the United States Grand Prix this weekend. They’re looking to rejoin the victory fight after a difficult run since the summer break.

The Silver Arrows made a breakthrough with their concept in the summer, enabling them to win the Austrian, British and Belgian Grands Prix. They were reliant on Max Verstappen and Lando Norris colliding to take victory at the Red Bull Ring, but outclassed their rivals at the other two races.

Between the Canadian GP in early June and the break, they had at least one car on the podium at every race and also took two pole positions through George Russell. Unfortunately, they haven’t been able to sustain those levels.

Mercedes didn’t see the desired results from a new floor design and eventually scrapped it. They’ve only scored 63 points since the August shutdown, an average of less than 16 per event.

Russell has scored their only podium in that sequence, and even then he was reliant on the late crash involving Sergio Perez and Carlos Sainz in Azerbaijan. Toto Wolff’s squad have lost any realistic hope of a top-three finish in the constructors’ standings.

But any progress they make in the final six races could provide a foundation for 2025. Mercedes have brought six different upgrades to Austin, including a new front wing and front suspension and reprofiled floor.

George Russell confused after spotting Lewis Hamilton error at US Grand Prix

Both Mercedes drivers seemed to struggle for grip during the opening practice session on Friday. Lewis Hamilton was sixth fastest, three and a half tenths off pacesetter Sainz, while Russell was a tenth further back in seventh.

There was a dramatic spin for Hamilton in the early moments as he lost control of his car on the entry to turn four. He pirouetted at high speed but managed to avoid the barriers.

It’s possible that Hamilton was compromised by the Haas ahead of him, forcing him to take a tighter line. But Russell, who’d seemingly seen a replay of the incident on the TV screens, reported an issue at the same corner.

Replays showed that the 26-year-old had to collect a snap of oversteer heading into the sweeping section. He would spin himself later in FP1.

“Was that turn four for Lewis?” Russell said over the radio. “Because I had a big moment there as well. That’s weird. Have a look at mine, I had something very similar there.”

How ‘three seasons’ of set-up experiments have hurt Lewis Hamilton at Mercedes

Hamilton is now entering the final stretch of his Mercedes career. After the two upcoming triple-headers, he will officially leave the team to join Ferrari.

1978 F1 world champion Mario Andretti has ‘noticed’ a change in Hamilton. He says he’s rediscovered his ‘grit’ this year after agreeing a move to Maranello.

Mercedes have now stopped experimenting with Hamilton’s car after doing so for around two and a half seasons. That could give him a platform to claim at least one more big result.

There’s a theory that the engineers have hampered the seven-time world champion in the ground effect era. Because he’s been trialling some radical solutions, he’s been less comfortable when he tries to operate at the limit of the car.