George Russell

[Donnywolf]

B******s just B******s
I couldnt be more gutted for him

[Filo]

No need to pit, they had the race by the scruff of the neck, monumental f**k up, ironically it was Russell’s replacement in the Williams that caused the safety car that led to that f**k up

[Donnywolf]

... agree Merc should have left them out and George would perhaps have won quite easily

Ironic as you pointed out it was his on Car that prevented him winning probably first by spinning and losing its front wing which brought the Virtual Safety Car out and then after they mucked up both Pit stops it was probably shards of debris from the Car not cleaned up that gave him the slow puncture

Was laughing at your and my attempts to keep it clean but did you see Toto Wolff interview after the Race .... HE cant post on here as he said "colossal f**k up" live on Telly - oops

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x3uHsPYsiXM

Only have to watch up to 36 seconds lol

[keyser_soze]

Benefit of hindsight, 99 times out of a hundred it goes well and no-one bats an eyelid. Just shows its a risk every time you make a pitstop. If they hadn't pitted they would have lost the race on pace alone after the safety car restart.. Tough on George though, i was absolutely gutted for him in what could be his only opportunity if Hamilton gets a negative test this week.

Cruel irony that the tit that crashed was in Russell's car, and it was probably a piece of his own car that punctured his tyre.

[IDM]

Even with the unnecessary pit stop, Russell was very likely to catch Perez until the puncture..

[keyser_soze]

Bottas' pace after the safety car showed the pitstop was necessary, with the same hard tyres back on his car they fell off a cliff.

I imagine if Russell hadn't had the puncture and lost the race there would have been ONE HELL of a stink about him doing a lap with an illegal set of tyres, and a noisy legal protests from Force India. It possibly wouldn't have been hushed up with a £20k fine and they likely would not have kept the win.

[bobjimwilly]

https://www.express.co.uk/sport/f1-autosport/1369750/Valtteri-Bottas-Mercedes-George-Russell-Williams-Instagram

Could be nothing, but wouldn't be the biggest F1 shock if Bottas and Russell swapped cars next year

[Donnywolf]

Season after next if Ham stays on with Merc it will be him and Russell in 2023

Season after next if Ham retires it will be a big "name" and Russell in 2023

Bottas will "move on" I am pretty sure (imho). He has had the Car to do Ham and not really got near him (loads of bad luck I concede) and VB IS able to challenge Ham in a way that Barichello for nstance was not allowed to challenge Schuey

[keyser_soze]

Bottas only has a one year deal so there could be a free seat at Merc in 2022.
Hamilton still hasn't signed up for next year yet!

Bet he got that contract on Fed-ex Next Day as soon as he saw Russell's pace in practice and qualifying.

[Donnywolf]

Yes I wrote my last post badly - it should say 2022 !

If Ham wins in 2021 and retires Russell will be in like a flash but not alongside Bottas

If Ham wins in 2021 and stays on Russell will be in like a flash as his nominal "number 2" but in reality should be capable of a serious Title challenge