Formula 1 - George Russell in Mercedes

FrankT · December 2020

Great news that they've put George in Lewis Hamilton's car for this weekend. Fastest in both FP1 and FP2 sessions.
Hoping he can beat Bottas in the race. Was remarkable he was fastest in practice, as the seat doesn't fit him, and his size 11 feet couldn't fit in either, he had to grin and bear the pain of wearing a size smaller shoe.

He beat everyone, at every race in the E-Sports events before the season started.

Good luck Georgie boy!

The Mighty Dopethrone · December 2020

"Boy", indeed! All this and he still looks like he's barely out of primary school.

I'll be watching to see what happens, although I'll be willing to be there's a certain German who'll be less than impressed that he wasn't chosen for a really big opportunity instead, and will have to polish his Le Mans trophy as consolation.

merman · December 2020

Proof that Hamilton had the best car there

1024MAK · December 2020

Lewis Hamilton does of course have the best car. But his team mate, Valtteri Bottas has a car that is just as good. And Lewis has outclassed Bottas in the vast majority of races. So with the combination of a really good car and a really good driver, it’s not really surprising that Lewis has won another championship.

George Russell has completely outclassed his team mate with his driving of the Williams car. So now that he has the chance to drive Lewis‘s car, I think he has a good chance of doing really well. Although since he will not be fully familiar with this car, I’m not expecting him to have an easy race.

Nevertheless, I do wish him good luck. Let’s hope he can get on the podium.

Mark

The Mighty Dopethrone · December 2020

And, after watching the qualifying on German TV (as I still can for this race and one more), that should do nicely.

At least we will be spared the dull, dull Hamilton.Bottas/Verstappen podium we've had so many times this year. Unless, that is, Lewis finds a way to win the race despite not participating in it. It wouldn't come as any kind of surprise...

FrankT · December 2020

George did well, only 26 thousands of a second behind Bottas. Max will be all over George in the race I bet, starting on softer tires.

1024MAK · December 2020

Confusion at the Mercedes pits causes absolute chaos :((

Mark

polomint · December 2020

Chaos is an understatement, I'm glad that Perez got his win, surely he has gotta replace Albon at RBR.

Also, maybe Russell has a chance to chat with Toto about upping the timeline for his move also ;)

merman · December 2020

Russell called to the stewards

polomint · December 2020

Probably that tyres thing. How they fecked that up I don't know, although the stop was all over the place heh

The Mighty Dopethrone · December 2020

At this point I would like to send a "don't get well too soon" message to His Holiness Saint Lewis of Stevenage. Don't fight the Wu-flu too hard... for about five or six days. Then you can get better!

Meanwhile, that means Baby-Faced George will get a second shot at picking up a trophy, albeit at the most tedious track of the year. And Messrs. Bottas and Albon can brick it over their future. Maybe they should team up with Nico Hülkenberg for an assault on Le Mans once Audi have rejoined the series... seeing as one of those three knows how to win it!

polomint · December 2020

Agreed, definitely want Russell to get another show in the Merc :)

FrankT · December 2020

Absolutely gutted for George, at least they didn't give him a penalty for the teams f-up.

Without a doubt he is in a different class to Bottas, totally out driving him in the race. Even after the pit-stop mistake, coming out behind Bottas, he quickly got back up to 2nd and was rapidly catching Perez, no doubt he still would've won that race without a suspected puncture. Then back out in 15th I think with just a few laps, to get back up to behind Bottas again was biblical.

He deserves to take Bottas' seat, sooner rather than later. Mercedes can loan Williams Bottas.

And yeah, Perez should get Albon's seat for next year.

Epic race though, best of the season.

FrankT · December 2020

Just heard on Ted's Notebook, that an e-mail was sent out saying any attendee who got Convid at the Bahrain GP will not be allowed to go to Abu Dhabi.

So George should be in the Mercedes again next weekend. Unless they break the rules and let Lewis in.

FrankT · December 2020

George at the Thursday press conference with Mercedes. George in car for Friday practice. Fingers crossed Lewis won't be allowed to travel. Mercedes said the other day he was having another test this morning, and going if negative, though no one from paddock, media and crew etc are allowed in Abu Dhabi if they had a positive test in Bahrain 2 weeks ago. Lewis is very quite, or they're keeping him off the air, he's normally tweeting constantly. He's been training, so can't be very ill.

https://www.skysports.com/watch/video/sports/f1/12157100/abu-dhabi-gp-mercedes-press-conference

Everyone talking about George replacing Bottas, but it's Lewis who doesn't have a contract for 2021 yet. I think they're using George as a bargaining chip to lower Lewis's price.

VincentAC · December 2020

FrankT wrote: »

Fingers crossed Lewis won't be allowed to travel.

Apparently he arrived in Abu Dhabi today after testing negative yesterday. Guess I'll not bother watching this weekend then as he'll be in the lead from the start with nothing exciting happening.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/formula1/55264873

Gwyn · December 2020

No slight meant on Lewis, because he deserves all the plaudits he gets, but I also feel a little let down that George isn't getting another chance in the Mercedes this weekend. I think if he blew Bottas away a second time, the team would find it very hard to justify not giving him the drive full-time next season.

As it is, it looks like George will be back with Williams again in 2021 continually managing to make a crap car look less crap than it is. (No slight meant on Williams either, who have an incredible history, but simply aren't the same team any more...)

Formula 1 - George Russell in Mercedes

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