JB: Merc situation easier for Russell due to lack of wins

Will Alonso’s luck change at Alpine?

It’s decision time for Mercedes in Spain

McLaren need to bounce back from Miami

More Albon heroics for Williams in Spain?

AlphaTauri failing to ignite their season

Alfa Romeo have McLaren in their sights

Can Ferrari stem the Red Bull tide?

Jenson Button is not the first to suggest George Russell is having an easier time this season than Lewis Hamilton because of his lack of recent success.

Russell stepped up to Mercedes this season after three years of racing at the very back of the grid with Williams.

The Briton had a tough time honing his craft at the Grove team, the Williams F1 cars woefully off the pace, so much so it was not until his third season that he finally scored his first points for the team.

With the Mercedes W13 proving to be a “killer to drive”, Hamilton is finding it difficult to get the most out of the car while Russell is the only driver on this year’s grid to have finished every race inside the top five.

It is those struggles Button believes have given him an advantage over Hamilton in this year’s championship.

“It’s easier for George because he hasn’t won in a long time,” Speedweek quotes Button as having told Sky Sports. “For him, the Mercedes is still a step up from last year, so he can be a bit more relaxed about it.

“He also finishes ahead of his team-mate, even if it wasn’t entirely his fault in Miami as Lewis was unlucky with the Safety Car.”

Russell is 23 points ahead of Hamilton in the Drivers’ Championship.

The 2009 World Champion highlighted the ‘porpoising’ the W13 seems to suffer more than its rivals as Mercedes’ biggest concern.

He does, however, see a silver lining for the Silver Arrows.

“The reason why Mercedes struggle so much is because they have