‘Does Russell lack the Formula 1 star power that Hamilton and Verstappen have?'

In GPblog's F1 Paddock Update, our hosts also review the comments they receive. The one from today read: "Russell isn't a great racer. He makes bad decisions in a panic similar to Leclerc. They are fast over one lap but not racing compared to someone like Hamilton, who keeps a cool head, always thinking, even advising his team how to get the best result. Russell is like a shop floor worker thinking he can do the manager's job. He's not ready."

Russell entered the season as favourite for the drivers' championship, but after three rounds, he trails his young teammate Kimi Antonelli by nine points in the standings.

Does Russell have the necessary star power to become a world champion? Watch Ben and Jim discuss this topic at the top of this article!

George Russell understands that multiple-time world champion Max Verstappen wants to do what makes him happy, as the Dutchman competed at the Nordschleife last weekend, and will return to the German track in May as well.

He explained to a select group of media, including GPblog: "I've driven hundreds of laps around the Nordschleife on the simulator. I would live chance to go and race around the Nordschleife. But my goal is to become a Formula 1 world champion.

"If I have four of them under my belt, I'll probably be doing the same. He’s in a very different stage of his career. And yeah, I think you'd understand if he stayed and you'd understand if he went," he concluded.