Lewis hamiliton is quite the champion

[normal rules]

Interesting to see the rookie Russell get not only a flat but a nightmare in the pits.
Odds of that happening ?
#otherforces at work?

[Filo]

Interesting to see the rookie Russell get not only a flat but a nightmare in the pits.
Odds of that happening ?
#otherforces at work?

Bottas also had a nightmare in the pits, taking his tyres off to put the same ones back on after putting a set of Russells on the front and then realising Russell hat a set of Bottas tyres on so they had to bring him in again, putting softs on, he was murdering the field got up to second and reeling Perez in to suffer a punture

[Draytonian III]

I think with Russell doing so well a lot could be said about it being the car not the driver in a lot of cases.

[Filo]

I think with Russell doing so well a lot could be said about it being the car not the driver in a lot of cases.

Russell is a Mercedes protege, he’s a very talented driver, he’ll be World Champion one day

[Donnywolf]

I think with Russell doing so well a lot could be said about it being the car not the driver in a lot of cases.

I reckon (and have said so in #Reply 25 above) the Car IS important but of course Russell is the Reserve driver for Merc and he was the last one to use Hams Car after Abu Dhabi last Season so he is not stranger to it

Also I hope the driver input can be brought to the front and centre eventually as the sport is equalised by Liberty (USA) who know their product will be improved by making Teams run Cars as alike as they can possibly make them.

I look forward to that day I must say - and if / when it does come there should be no one driver winning 7 Titles as Ham has done

This is the F1 equivalent in USA and look at the number of different Champions. Sure Scott Dixon has 6 but it has taken him 17 Seasons to do it - and a rae hat trick there by Dario Franchitti (Scottish)

Thats got to be better surely ?

 

Driver	Total	Seasons
Scott Dixon	6	2003, 2008, 2013, 2015, 2018, 2020
Dario Franchitti	4	2007, 2009, 2010, 2011
Sam Hornish Jr.	3	2001, 2002, 2006
Josef Newgarden	2	2017, 2019
Scott Sharp	1	1996
Buzz Calkins	1996
Tony Stewart	1997
Kenny Bräck	1998
Greg Ray	1999
Buddy Lazier	2000
Tony Kanaan	2004
Dan Wheldon	2005
Ryan Hunter-Reay	2012
Will Power	2014
Simon Pagenaud	2016

[keyser_soze]

I think with Russell doing so well a lot could be said about it being the car not the driver in a lot of cases.

Yeah, Russell isn't some bum they have taken off the streets, he got the drive as he is next in line for the seat when Bottas or Hamilton move aside, in deference to Vandoorne who is the reserve drivers and ready to drop in at short notice.

He is a Merc junior rather than reserve driver, and contracted to Williams. He is obviously well thought of and the fact the title was won and they had a week  to arrange contracts it was a unique opportunity to try him out. That said I must admit I was surprised just how competitive he was.

[big fat yorkshire pudding]

He won f2 quite convincingly though so quite clear he's talented. He's massively outperformed his Williams for nearly 2 seasons. Just a shame he so far seems to have zero luck.

[keyser_soze]

I'm sure his time will come, but being a Mercedes junior doesn't guarantee you the seat, look to Werhlein and Ocon who came and went while waiting for a seat. At least Ocon found a way back in with Renault and nice to see him on the podium yesterday.

Just shows how many talented drivers must fall through the net by just not quite getting in the right car at the right time. That is a skill in itself.

[Donnywolf]

I reckon he is nailed on for Mercerdes - and tere are a few scenarios that will lead to that but only 1 I can think of that will prevent it in 2022

He will still get the Seat at some point though

[selby]

  Well the Ausies have said for a number of years we are good at sport where you sit on your backside.

[IDM]

I think with Russell doing so well a lot could be said about it being the car not the driver in a lot of cases.

On the other hand, Russell as driving a car he didn’t physically fit into properly, and was beating Bottas who should be miles more familiar with the car, before the tyre shenanigans.

If it was just about the car, Bottas would walk the GP in Hamilton’s absence.

Russell isn’t the Mercedes reserve driver,  it if they are looking at him for the future that was a damned good interview.!!

[sha66y]

Can’t stand Hamilton and am waiting.....( taps fingers)

[Metalmicky]

I see Hamilton has decided he is able to compete in the next (final?) race........ he must be looking over his shoulder..

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

[IDM]

With 7 world championships behind him, I doubt he’s worried much about a bit of decent competition.!

[Donnywolf]

I see Hamilton has decided he is able to compete in the next (final?) race........ he must be looking over his shoulder..

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

Pure speculation by me - maybe Ham wants one last Race ? (Unlikely) In reality he can do more Seasons - break more records but both are speculation of course

At the moment he has no fear of George Russell who would probably be allowed to compete against Ham on an equal basis. It seems the way that Merc do it - because Ham is as good as it gets and GR is heading up that way.