George Russell’s strong qualifying performances in 2024 have drawn attention, with the British driver’s natural driving style playing a key role. His 18-6 qualifying record against Lewis Hamilton and his position ahead of his teammate in the standings are evidence of his impressive form.

Russell believes his driving style is well-suited to the current generation of Formula 1 cars, especially the 18-inch Pirelli tyres. However, he downplayed any major connection between the cars’ regulations and his success, saying there’s nothing particularly special about this generation.

The Briton’s minimalist driving approach helps him get the most out of the tyres during qualifying. He takes smoother lines and applies a single steering input through corners, which reduces stress on the tyres and helps maintain their optimal temperature.

In contrast, Hamilton’s more aggressive style, including late braking and sharp steering, tends to overwork the tyres, making it harder to extract peak performance.

However, at the same time, when speaking to Motorsport.com, Russell also acknowledged that Hamilton has always been a tough teammate, which likely made their qualifying battle more noticeable.

“I think probably my natural driving style has worked well in these cars.

“But, equally, my qualifying record against my teammates in the previous generation was good and in every category, my qualifying records have been strong.

“I don’t think there’s anything particular with this generation. But, obviously, Lewis has been my toughest teammate. So, I think that’s why it’s been highlighted a bit more.”