" A new star is born" was Toto's statement about George today Interestingly the audience ratings had a massive jump this weekend according to Ross Brawn. Will Mercedes finally dump sleepy Bottas, and utilize the benefits of a 1 year contract ?
Russell is WDC material in the Mercedes. Mercedes just has to fit him in a comfortable chassis and all Russell has to do is hone his race-craft skills. He can do ir.
Bingo. "oh I want Max/Leclerc/Vettel as a teammate''. Easy to say when he knows it won't actually happen. Go on Lewis. Call your bluff.
I don’t get it.. Russell is a pure product of the Mercedes filiere. How is it that he hasn’t been in the W11 since the beginning of the season? Hamilton said he loved sport and competition, but the facts prove him wrong again.
For Mercedes, I don't think its a choice between Bottas and Russell. Its a choice between Lewis and Russell, with Bottas a solid #2. I can see Lewis (if he really wants to race another year) cutting his salary to stay on the team and keep Russell out. Also, with Bottas, Lewis knows exactly how hard he has to work to stay in front. Russell must be Lewis's biggest fear...a young driver with as much talent and hungrier. After today I'm not sure anyone would pay Lewis' salary now. Russell is the hot star everyone would love to have at a great price. I think Ferrari would dump Sainz for him, Red Bull might even consider Max could be replaced with Russell, and at this point, I think Russell could have his pick of what team he wants to drive for, and they'd all pay Williams whatever the cost to buy out his contract.
Lots of people have been talking about Russell being an amazing talent. And now we know 100% it’s true. It actually doesn’t matter that he lost - that wasn’t his fault. But boy the kids got all the skills. Speed - check. Race craft - check. Overtaking without DRS - check. Intelligence - check. Cool under pressure - check. He’s every bit as good as any other top tier driver. His next move is crucial. He needs to avoid the trap of settling for a midfield team to get away from Williams and wait for the right car in a team capable of a wdc. Right now that’s only Mercedes but come 2022 all bets are off - and hopefully the choice will be wider. His time will come. He’s just too good to get passed up.
Bingo. All the people talking crap about Bottas haven't got the slightest idea what winning a WCC is about. Bottas is the perfect #2 driver and quite frankly Hamilton is the perfect #1 driver (no mistakes). A lot of hate on here because he wins the title and breaks the records of his Holiness, but it's a golden combination. I would love to see Mercedes go for Russell instead of Hamilton in 2022, Ferrari kicking out Sainz for Hamilton and watch Hamilton take his 9th title for Ferrari! I'm guessing the world population of crows would go extinct though...
Never happen. Hamilton doesn't have the chops to win without a dominant car. Driving for Ferrari would Vettelate him.
Today’s words coming from Germany ( don’t know the source sorry) . Red Bull wants Russell as Max teammate next year. Interesting.
If that happened Mercedes might supply RB with engines. Toto said he wants to see close competition. But then again...
Russell showed he is on par with Hamilton, and that Hamilton isn't the special GOAT some people like him to be. But Saintz, Perez or lets say a Riciarrdo would have done just as good in the W11. Let alone what a Leclerc or Verstappen could do with that car. RB replacing Verstappen, or Ferrari Saintz for Russell because he is quicker than Bottas is just plain silly.
News coming from England (source is me - I made this up). Russell tells RB to take a hike as he has no interest in that toxic environment that has destroyed many more careers than it’s made..!
Do you really believe he is happy to do one more year with Williams after the demonstration he made yesterday ? Russell’s management is the only real mistake Toto made the last seven years.
I agree that Russell should have been given the Merc seat last year but they went with Bottas instead. That was a mystery. It is what it is. But tell me this. What would you rather do:- option 1 - one more year in Williams then straight to Mercedes option 2 - move to another team for 2021 (not many options left...) and permanently lose the chance of a Mercedes seat?
Red Bull is not a bad option. Problem is Max. With more experience he’s very very strong. He’s a team mate destroyer now. Finally you are right , better for George to stay one year more with Williams waiting the Mercedes seat. Just hope Checo will have the Red Bull seat because people will really Realize how Max is really quick.
The next year with Williams is not at all a career ending item for Russell. Now the team will see him in possibly 2 races. They can assist him in what they would want him to do and be prepared for - assuming he is selected. One year with LH would be my opinion and have LH move on. The second seat would then go to Max LOL
Prior to this weekend Russell was a future Mercedes star with no real options outside of that. After this weekend Russell is on everybody's radar. Given his performance this shift is well earned.