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Former Formula 1 world champion Jacques Villeneuve believes George Russell’s impressive performances and lead over Lewis Hamilton in the Drivers’ Championship represents a ‘changing of the guard’ for Mercedes.

It’s hardly been a dream campaign for Hamilton, whose hopes of securing a historic eighth world championship are all but over. The Brit, who is level with Michael Schumacher on seven titles, finds himself in sixth in the Drivers’ Standings - almost 70 points behind Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc - following disappointing P10 and P13 finishes in Saudi Arabia and Imola.

The octuple world champions have struggled with severe porpoising as their cars have been bouncing uncontrollably. The porpoising issues have plagued the early rounds of the 2022 season for Mercedes, as neither Hamilton nor teammate Russell have been able to compete with the likes of Ferrari and Red Bull.

However, Russell has fared slightly better than his partner, securing top five finishes in each of the first five races of the 2022 season to find himself 23 points clear of Hamilton. Villeneuve, who claimed the 1997 F1 title with Williams, believes Russell’s impressive start to life at Mercedes gives the German manufacturer’s the perfect opportunity to re-shape