P1racenews AI automatic summary:
George Russell has become Mercedes’ lead driver following the departure of Lewis Hamilton at the end of the 2024 Formula 1 season.
Former F1 driver Johnny Herbert claims that Mercedes favored George Russell over Lewis Hamilton during the previous season. Hamilton surprised the motorsport world by announcing his move to Ferrari for the 2025 season, with a year remaining at Mercedes. Despite winning races, Hamilton struggled in his final season, being outperformed by Russell. With the arrival of young talent Kimi Antonelli, Russell has stepped up as the new leader at Mercedes. Herbert believes Russell was given preferential treatment even before Hamilton’s departure and is now the focal point at Mercedes alongside Antonelli.
