Hamilton ‘has to admit Russell is better right now’

Ralf Schumacher believes Lewis Hamilton has to hold his hands up and concede George Russell is currently the stronger force at Mercedes.

Four races into his full-time Mercedes F1 career, Russell has a 21-point advantage over the seven-time former World Champion in the Drivers’ standings.

Of course, both of the British duo are struggling to get performance out of the heavily ‘porpoising’ W13 car, which is well off the pace of the front-running Ferrari and Red Bull – and at the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix they were also behind McLaren.

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But it is now three races in a row that Russell has finished ahead of Hamilton, which is clearly a situation the 37-year-old needs to address having already ruled himself out of contention for an eighth title.

Schumacher, winner of six grands prix for Williams between 2001 and 2003, does not believe it is down to luck that Russell holds the upper hand in terms of points at this stage after finishing fourth at Imola with Hamilton down in 13th.

“We also have to talk about Lewis Hamilton, of course,” said Schumacher in his column for Sky Germany, having already discussed his nephew Mick’s difficulties and suggested Aston Martin’s double points finish at Imola could be a “flash in the pan”.

“He has to ask himself why George Russell is so much faster than him. A 13th place is of course not Hamilton’s