F1 News & Discussions > F1 Drivers

Should Russell race for Mercedes in 2021?

(1/1)

Jericoke:
Tt's one race.  It was a great race.  Russel clearly fits in at Mercedes.  Should he be in the silver arrows in 2021?

I say 'no'.

Reason 1.  With 2021 rules being more or less a 2020 do over, I see little reason for anything to change.  Mercedes will be at the front, with their top driver winning the WDC, their second driver runner up, and the team winning WCC.  The team as is works, why mess with that?

Replace Bottas with Russel is he going to be MORE second?

Worse, what if Russel is ahead of Hamilton,and on track for the WDC?  We saw what Hamilton did to Rosberg.  What's he going to do to Russel?  Russel might be able to take it, but maybe not.

The other option is to replace Hamilton with Russel. Mercedes has the chance to be in the record books for being the record setting 8th championship for Hamilton, with his picture associated with the tri-star forever.  Who wants to give that up?

Now, if 2021 goes off poorly, Hamilton doesn't have the 'drive' that makes him Hamilton, or Bottas gets too far in his head worrying about losing his seat, THEN Mercedes can do a 'call up' for Russel part way through the season.  Otherwise, they run the risk of replicating Hamilton/Alonso in 2007 or Vettel/LeClerc in 2019. Making a champion feel ordinary doesn't help anyone.

John S:
Be a bad move for Mercedes, Jeri. Lewis is out of contract and may only want a year on year deal as he not sure how he'll feel after an potential 8th WDC. 

The new regs 2022 cars are maybe a risk Lewis may not need or even want, this could leave Merc in a hole with relatively inexperienced George and someone new in a leading team for 22 if Bottas has been shown the door.

IMHO much better to let Valtteri continue to support Lewis in 21 and then make a decision for 2022 when Lewis has confirmed whether or not he will lead the team in the new car. George will get a 22 drive but his teamate will be one of the 2 previous experienced pilots at the team.

Alianora La Canta:
I'd put George in next time a slot naturally comes free. No need to make anything happen artificially, and after this weekend, I think Valtteri's thinking about life after Mercedes.

Scott:
There is always the continuity question, but as long as the car is a solid winner, and the driver not full of rookie mistakes, they would still be dominant.  I would toss Bottas in a second if I could put Russell in the car.  He showed he was on pace over one single race weekend.  Adjust the cockpit to his size and he would be even more comfortable and probably perform even better.

Navigation

[0] Message Index