George Russell top dog at Mercedes after knocking Lewis Hamilton off perch

It was always bound to be a difficult task for George Russell to prove his mettle in his maiden year with Mercedes, but Eddie Jordan believes he's passing the test with flying colours.

So much so, in fact, that the ex-Formula 1 team owner believes Russell has surpassed Lewis Hamilton to become "top dog" for the Silver Arrows. Both drivers have experienced issues with the W13 design this season, but it's the newcomer who appears to be handling the setback best.

Hamilton, 37, weathered controversy in the off-season and returned to the grid in 2022 with his sights set on a record-breaking eighth world championship. The reality has proved far more humbling, however, as he sits sixth in the standings having mustered a single podium finish from seven races.

Russell, 24, lies 34 points ahead of his team-mate in fourth place and has managed two top-three results thus far. The former Williams man crossed the line just behind Hamilton at the season-opener in Bahrain but has finished ahead of his new colleague in all six outings since then.

“Absolutely," replied Jordan when asked by Channel 4 if Russell had justified Mercedes' interest in his talents. "I think the big surprise is, everybody globally, in Formula 1 context, thinks that Lewis Hamilton is top dog. But he’s no longer top dog, not even in that team because Russell has taken his perch away."

Both Hamilton and team principal Toto Wolff have hinted a hallowed eighth world title looks less likely following their difficulties thus far. Russell stretched the gap between him and his team-mate once more in Monaco on Sunday, where he finished fifth while Hamilton settled for eighth.

Do you think George Russell will finish higher than Hamilton in 2022? Let us know in the comments section.

Jordan said it was "very interesting to watch" the balance of power change at Mercedes, adding he was intrigue to see "how Lewis is going to overcome that.” Former McLaren and Williams driver Juan Pablo Montoya appeared to place more faith in Hamilton when he commented on the growing rivalry.

“I think George, on one-lap pace, is doing a much better job than Lewis – he’s getting more out of the car on one lap,” said Montoya during an appearance on Sky's ‘Any Driven Monday’ show. “When Lewis is on his A-game, he’s hard. I think George can do a job on one lap but he’s got a lot to learn from Lewis on race pace. Same as when Valtteri [Bottas] was there, the pace of Lewis in the races was incredible.”

There might well be lessons Russell can learn from his more wizened team-mate, with Hamilton's Mercedes contract due to expire in 2023. F1's joint-most decorated champion has become synonymous with Silver Arrows success since joining in 2013, but the new kid on the block is embracing his chance.

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