Hamilton raised some eyebrows at the Monaco Grand Prix when he suggested he would be unable to ever outqualify Russell again this season – and was at pains to point out his team-mate had had exclusive use of a new front wing for Monte Carlo.
Although it subsequently emerged that Hamilton had turned down the opportunity to run the wing because he did not want to risk a pitlane start if it was damaged in qualifying, the seven-time champion's comments about Russell holding the advantage hinted at some concern about things not being totally even between them.
