Motorsport Week
  • Formula 1
    • 2025 Formula 1 Calendar
    • 2025 Formula 1 Standings
  • Formula E
    • 2025 Formula E Calendar
    • 2025 Formula E Standings
  • IndyCar
    • 2025 IndyCar Calendar
    • 2025 IndyCar Standings
  • WRC
    • 2025 WRC Standings
    • 2025 WRC Calendar
  • MotoGP
    • 2025 MotoGP Calendar
    • 2025 MotoGP Standings
    • Moto2
    • Moto3
  • WEC
    • 2025 WEC Calendar
  • IMSA
    • 2025 IMSA Calendar
  • World SBK
  • More
    • Formula 2
    • Formula 3
    • F1 Academy
    • Moto2
    • Moto3
    • World Superbikes
    • Technical Insight
    • Galleries
    • About/Contact
    • Privacy Policy
No Result
View All Result
  • Formula 1
    • 2025 Formula 1 Calendar
    • 2025 Formula 1 Standings
  • Formula E
    • 2025 Formula E Calendar
    • 2025 Formula E Standings
  • IndyCar
    • 2025 IndyCar Calendar
    • 2025 IndyCar Standings
  • WRC
    • 2025 WRC Standings
    • 2025 WRC Calendar
  • MotoGP
    • 2025 MotoGP Calendar
    • 2025 MotoGP Standings
    • Moto2
    • Moto3
  • WEC
    • 2025 WEC Calendar
  • IMSA
    • 2025 IMSA Calendar
  • World SBK
  • More
    • Formula 2
    • Formula 3
    • F1 Academy
    • Moto2
    • Moto3
    • World Superbikes
    • Technical Insight
    • Galleries
    • About/Contact
    • Privacy Policy
No Result
View All Result
Motorsport Week
Home Single Seater Formula 1

Villeneuve: There’s been a changing of the guard at Mercedes

by Fergal Walsh
3 years ago
A A
3
Villeneuve: There’s been a changing of the guard at Mercedes
Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

1997 Formula 1 World Champion Jacques Villeneuve believes that there has been a “changing of the guard” at Mercedes.

George Russell joined the team as a full-time driver in 2022, having been associated with it for several years as a junior member.

The Briton is racing alongside compatriot Lewis Hamilton, however the seven-time World Champion has endured a much rockier start to the campaign compared to Russell.

Russell has scored top five finishes at each of the grands prix in 2022 so far, with Mercedes competing off the championship-fighting pace it displayed for several years.

RelatedPosts

McLaren will run a special livery at this weekend's British GP

McLaren revives Chrome look for special F1 British GP livery

49 minutes ago
Yuki Tsunoda has struggled to adapt to Red Bull's RB21 car

Red Bull insists RB21 ‘not that difficult’ to drive amid Yuki Tsunoda F1 struggles

2 hours ago

Last time out in Miami, Russell started the race on the Hard tyres from outside the top 10, going longer into the race and overtaking Hamilton following a late Safety Car restart.

Villeneuve believes that it signalled a change at Mercedes, and says Hamilton is struggling to keep up with his new team-mate. 

“I think we have seen the definitive changing of the guard at Mercedes,” Villeneuve wrote in his column for formule1.nl. 

“Russell is riding the wave, Hamilton is trying not to drown. After many years of winning without competition, it is hard to wake up and realise it is not that simple.

“He now has to drive like he did in his first two years in Formula 1, something Russell is doing now. 

“In the [Miami] race, Russell made the decision – let me stay out, maybe there will be a Safety Car, and it paid off.”

Villeneuve added that Hamilton is still carrying the weight of disappointment from his controversial title defat in 2021.

“Lewis’ championship luck seems to have disappeared, he doesn’t have the momentum and it’s not falling his way,’ he said. “It will be a tough fight, but Lewis is a racer and a champion.

“He knows what needs to be done and we will see if he still has the energy to do it. But I think missing out on the world title last year is a heavy burden for him to carry all winter. 

“He was bitter and feels he was robbed. But from the way Max [Verstappen] is driving, you can see he didn’t steal the title at all and is a deserved champion.”

Tags: F1George RussellLewis HamiltonMercedesVilleneuve
Share198Tweet124Share

Related Posts

McLaren will run a special livery at this weekend's British GP
Formula 1

McLaren revives Chrome look for special F1 British GP livery

50 minutes ago
Yuki Tsunoda has struggled to adapt to Red Bull's RB21 car
Formula 1

Red Bull insists RB21 ‘not that difficult’ to drive amid Yuki Tsunoda F1 struggles

2 hours ago
Max Verstappen's opening-lap exit in Austria exposed how Red Bull would struggle in his absence
Feature

How home race horror exposed Red Bull’s alarming F1 reality without Max Verstappen

3 hours ago
Load More

Comments 3

  1. D says:
    3 years ago

    JV saying what everyone who isn’t a Hammy fanyboy is thinking.

    Reply
  2. Alf says:
    3 years ago

    He’s a weirdo. 37 years old, unmarried, there is something seriously wrong with this Hamilton fellow.

    Reply
    • Freddy says:
      3 years ago

      Character flaws; plural. Hamilton cares more about his jewelry, his hip-hop reputation, than developing the car.

      Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Upcoming Races

#EventDate
11Austrian GP27-29 June
12British GP04-06 July
13Belgian GP25-27 July
14Hungarian GP01-03 August
15Dutch GP29-31 August

Click here for the full 2025 F1 calendar

Drivers’  Standings

#DriverPts
Oscar Piastri216
Lando Norris201
Max Verstappen155
George Russell146
Charles Leclerc120
Lewis Hamilton91
Andrea Kimi Antonelli63
Alexander Albon42
Isack Hadjar28
Esteban Ocon23

Click here for full Drivers’ Standings

Latest Articles

McLaren will run a special livery at this weekend's British GP
Formula 1

McLaren revives Chrome look for special F1 British GP livery

July 2, 2025
Yuki Tsunoda has struggled to adapt to Red Bull's RB21 car
Formula 1

Red Bull insists RB21 ‘not that difficult’ to drive amid Yuki Tsunoda F1 struggles

July 2, 2025
Max Verstappen's opening-lap exit in Austria exposed how Red Bull would struggle in his absence
Feature

How home race horror exposed Red Bull’s alarming F1 reality without Max Verstappen

July 2, 2025

Follow Motorsport Week

Join our daily motorsport newsletter

* indicates required

Motorsport Week

© 2024 Motorsport Media Services Ltd

Other Links

  • About & Contact
  • Privacy Policy
  • Motorsport Monday

Follow Us

No Result
View All Result
  • Login
  • Sign Up
  • Home
  • Formula 1
    • Latest News
    • 2025 F1 Calendar
    • 2025 F1 Championship Standings
  • Formula E
    • Latest News
    • 2025 FE Calendar
    • 2025 FE Championship Standings
  • MotoGP
    • Latest News
    • 2025 MotoGP Calendar
    • 2025 MotoGP Standings
    • Moto2
    • Moto3
    • World Superbikes
  • WRC
    • Latest News
    • 2025 WRC Calendar
    • 2025 WRC Standings
  • IndyCar
    • Latest News
    • 2025 IndyCar Calendar
    • 2025 IndyCar Standings
  • WEC
    • Latest News
    • 2025 WEC Calendar
  • Live Updates
  • Other
    • IMSA
    • Formula 2
    • Formula 3
    • F1 Academy
    • Moto2
    • Moto3
    • World Superbikes
  • Galleries
  • About/Contact
  • Privacy Policy

© 2024 Motorsport Media Services Ltd