Coulthard: 'Too early to compare Hamilton and Russell'

With the arrival of George Russell at Mercedes, Lewis Hamilton faces a new challenge. David Coulthard does not think the two drivers can be compared until they have battled it out for the top two positions on the grid.

Russell has been replacing Valtteri Bottas at Mercedes since the start of the 2022 season and the Briton is doing an excellent job. Russell has finished inside the top five in every race so far and has three podiums to his name.

Hamilton is having a significantly harder time with the W13. The seven-time world champion is currently sixth in the drivers' championship, 34 points behind Russell. The two drivers are being compared, but according to Coulthard it is too early to judge who is the better driver.

Hamilton and Russell comparison

"I think George is a future world champion, but we won't truly know how he compares to Lewis until they have a winning car again because, right now, this is the best car that George has ever driven, and this is not the best car that Lewis has driven", the former Formula One driver is quoted by Express.

"It's two different mindsets, two different phases of their careers. And that's why right now you go, ‘oh, George is outperforming Lewis'." The Scot believes the difference between the drivers will only really become apparent when they qualify first and second, but at the moment the team cannot match the times of Red Bull Racing and Ferrari.