9 drivers were named Driver of the Day this year: Lando Norris seven times, Charles Leclerc 5, Lewis Hamilton and Carlos Sainz 3, Oscar Piastri 2, Guanyu Zhou, Max Verstappen, Daniel Ricciardo and Oliver Bearman 1 time each.
The big absentee from these votes is George Russell. The Briton is the only Grand Prix winner in 2024 not to have been favored by the fans during this season. The driver of the No. 63 Mercedes was nevertheless one of the most consistent drivers, constantly appearing at the front during the season, despite a car with an irregular performance window.
Hamilton preferred to Russell twice
How can we explain such a difference in treatment compared to his friends? Is George Russell underrated? It is interesting to look at the Grands Prix won by the King's Lynn native this season. In Austria, his victory followed the accident between Max Verstappen and Lando Norris during the 64th of the 71 laps of the race, which occurred after several laps of intense battle between the two men. Third behind the two duettists, the Englishman was logically eclipsed by his compatriot.
Russell's second victory of the season came on the streets of Las Vegas. In the City of Vice, the Briton dominated the event from start to finish, leading 49 of the 50 laps after starting from pole position. A domination, however, insufficient to be elected once again driver of the day for viewers. In Nevada, the spotlight was stolen from him by his teammate Lewis Hamilton, second behind his garage neighbor after starting from tenth place on the starting grid.
It was the first time this season that George Russell fell victim to the aura of his illustrious teammate in the “Driver of the Day” votes. Already in Belgium, it was Sir Lewis who obtained this distinction even though he had initially had to lose to Russell. The latter had brilliantly made a one-stop strategy work thanks to perfect management of his tires in order to win. He was finally disqualified in the evening, his Mercedes being judged below the minimum weight required by the technical regulations. A punishment which could not influence the votes of this Sunday, July 28, since they are closed before the arrival of each Grand Prix.
While George Russell would probably rather fill his trophy cabinet than win honorary Driver of the Day awards, it is a shame to see that his performances this season have not been fully appreciated. Especially when Guanyu Zhou, author of an anonymous season before scoring Sauber's only points in Qatar (8th), and Daniel Ricciardo, dismissed even before the end of this exercise, received this distinction.
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