Jenson Button admits 'surprise' at Lewis Hamilton's 'step backwards' in Saudi Arabian Grand Prix

Jenson Button is surprised that Lewis Hamilton is struggling to match teammate George Russell’s performance in Saudi Arabia. Russell was the sixth fastest in qualifying on Saturday with his more experienced teammate way back in 16th, so he is currently set to start in 14th after retirements and regulations are enforced. Ad/> There is a possibility that given the starkly lacklustre pace he set in his drives that the car will abandon the current set-up and make severe enough changes that would warrant starting from the back as punishment.

Saudi Arabian Grand PrixMercedes performance 'totally unacceptable', says Wolff3 HOURS AGO Speaking to Sky Sports, former world champion Button said he was taken aback to see how much the seven-time winner has trailed his teammate. “It’s kind of a strange one to see that much of a gap between a teammate of Lewis, and Lewis. “It was the same in Bahrain but the other way around.

Lewis was almost a second quicker than George in Bahrain. He got the tyres in a working range that works with the car, whereas he wasn’t able to do that in Saudi Arabia. Mercedes performance 'totally unacceptable', says Wolff Hamilton praises Williams sisters' success after 'trials and tribulations' Opinion: Russell shows the way for Hamilton after qualifying failure “Really strange qualifying session for him.

Very unexpected for him, for the team, for the whole of F1 to see him that far down.” Button wondered if the Mercedes team would make significant alterations to the car before the start of the race on Sunday evening. “It’s going to be interesting to see what he does,” he said. “He’s going to start in 14th, or are they going to change the car and start him at the back? Starting 14th with the balance he has,