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F1 News & Discussions => General F1 Discussion => Topic started by: Dare on June 17, 2021, 12:30:36 AM

Title: 2022 Russel Bottas swap?
Post by: Dare on June 17, 2021, 12:30:36 AM
https://www.planetf1.com/news/george-russell-valtteri-bottas-futures/
Title: Re: 2022 Russel Bottas swap?
Post by: Jericoke on June 17, 2021, 01:50:22 PM
I presume this is why Ocon has signed for 3 more years with Alpine.
Title: Re: 2022 Russel Bottas swap?
Post by: Andy B on June 17, 2021, 10:53:37 PM
If true this was always on the cards as Merc have to prepare for LH's departure and GR has shown he's a good prospect. Only time will tell what going to happen.
Title: Re: 2022 Russel Bottas swap?
Post by: rmassart on June 18, 2021, 06:11:22 AM
I am wondering if they will get Russell earlier. As much as Hamilton likes Bottas as his wingman, I think this season he might need a wingman who is actually, you know, on his wing. Not eating his dust down in 15 place.
Title: Re: 2022 Russel Bottas swap?
Post by: Alianora La Canta on June 18, 2021, 09:18:01 AM
I'm getting the sense of a lengthy divorce rather than a sudden break-up. 2022... ...though I think Toto will be nervous because George still has some rough points to his driving that occasionally bite him.
Title: Re: 2022 Russel Bottas swap?
Post by: Andy B on June 18, 2021, 11:13:12 PM
GR's apprenticeship is over it's time for the big boys shoes.
Title: Re: 2022 Russel Bottas swap?
Post by: Jericoke on June 19, 2021, 10:04:57 PM
I'm getting the sense of a lengthy divorce rather than a sudden break-up. 2022... ...though I think Toto will be nervous because George still has some rough points to his driving that occasionally bite him.

I feel like any of Russel's faults right now are a matter of him trying to prove it's not him, but the car holding him back.  If the car isn't going to get points, you might as take chances and risks that he wouldn't have to in a 'better' car.
Title: Re: 2022 Russel Bottas swap?
Post by: Willy on June 19, 2021, 11:15:00 PM
Not a surprise after George showed his ability last year as he stood in for Lewis one race.
George certainly gave Bottas notice that his days in a Merc were numbered.
I, for one, am looking forward to seeing George as Lewis's teammate.

Title: Re: 2022 Russel Bottas swap?
Post by: Dare on June 20, 2021, 01:58:09 AM
Not a surprise after George showed his ability last year as he stood in for Lewis one race.
George certainly gave Bottas notice that his days in a Merc were numbered.
I, for one, am looking forward to seeing George as Lewis's teammate.


I think if you put most any F1 driver in the Mercedes they
would impress just like if you put Lewis in the Williams he
would look average
Title: Re: 2022 Russel Bottas swap?
Post by: Jericoke on June 21, 2021, 12:05:32 AM
Not a surprise after George showed his ability last year as he stood in for Lewis one race.
George certainly gave Bottas notice that his days in a Merc were numbered.
I, for one, am looking forward to seeing George as Lewis's teammate.


I think if you put most any F1 driver in the Mercedes they
would impress just like if you put Lewis in the Williams he
would look average

I'd have agreed with you last year, but how much time did we spend this season discussing the 'disappointment' in drivers like Alonso, Vettel and Sainz slowly adjusting to their new teams?

Russel jumped into a new car, and embarrassed the guy who'd been driving it all year.  Sure, if Russel had gotten third, I'd chalk that up to the car, not the driver.

Title: Re: 2022 Russel Bottas swap?
Post by: John S on June 21, 2021, 12:52:37 PM
Not a surprise after George showed his ability last year as he stood in for Lewis one race.
George certainly gave Bottas notice that his days in a Merc were numbered.
I, for one, am looking forward to seeing George as Lewis's teammate.


I think if you put most any F1 driver in the Mercedes they
would impress just like if you put Lewis in the Williams he
would look average

Not sure I can go with that Dare. Lewis has only been beaten twice over a season by his team mate in his 14 completed seasons in F1, once in 2011 by Jenson & 2016 by Nico, and then not by much. To me that marks him out as an extraordinary F1 driver, never mind his 7 WDCs.

Since most of us agree that Russell is a coming man and most commonly the yardstick quoted is total domination of his team mate, particularly in Quali. Taking this and applying it to Lewis can you really think he would not be as sharp as George in Quali and therefore mark himself clearly as above average?  :confused:

I agree anyone jumping into the Merc has more of a chance of looking good, however we've often seen so called hot shoes or safe hands fail in a change to a front running car over the years. Just because we are used to both Mercs being at the sharp end doesn't mean it's easy and any driver can do it. - IMHO  ;)       
Title: Re: 2022 Russel Bottas swap?
Post by: John S on June 21, 2021, 05:17:28 PM
Looks like the swap might be on before the end of the season if Wolff's criticism of Valtteri continues in this vein.

 http://gptoday.com/full_story/view/779095/Wolff_reveals_Bottas_error_that_derailed_Mercedes_French_hopes/
Title: Re: 2022 Russel Bottas swap?
Post by: Dare on June 22, 2021, 04:11:27 AM
Thinking about Bottas I remember what was said in Grand
Prix about James Gardner's character. You can't blame him
for wanting to race.
Title: Re: 2022 Russel Bottas swap?
Post by: Monty on June 22, 2021, 09:34:51 AM
Quote
Quote from: Dare on June 20, 2021, 01:58:09 AM
Quote from: Willy on June 19, 2021, 11:15:00 PM
Not a surprise after George showed his ability last year as he stood in for Lewis one race.
George certainly gave Bottas notice that his days in a Merc were numbered.
I, for one, am looking forward to seeing George as Lewis's teammate.


I think if you put most any F1 driver in the Mercedes they
would impress just like if you put Lewis in the Williams he
would look average

Not sure I can go with that Dare. Lewis has only been beaten twice over a season by his team mate in his 14 completed seasons in F1, once in 2011 by Jenson & 2016 by Nico, and then not by much. To me that marks him out as an extraordinary F1 driver, never mind his 7 WDCs.

Since most of us agree that Russell is a coming man and most commonly the yardstick quoted is total domination of his team mate, particularly in Quali. Taking this and applying it to Lewis can you really think he would not be as sharp as George in Quali and therefore mark himself clearly as above average?  :confused:

I agree anyone jumping into the Merc has more of a chance of looking good, however we've often seen so called hot shoes or safe hands fail in a change to a front running car over the years. Just because we are used to both Mercs being at the sharp end doesn't mean it's easy and any driver can do it. - IMHO  ;)
A good driver cannot magically make a bad car competitive but a good car still needs a good driver to win and Hamilton has done that consistently through his career. I think it is also important to understand that Hamilton has been a very important part of making the Mercedes as good as it is.
Title: Re: 2022 Russel Bottas swap?
Post by: Willy on June 22, 2021, 08:36:36 PM
George had not had time in the car before and this alone makes his performance noteworthy.
He will only get better with a teammate such as Lewis to mentor him.
Title: Re: 2022 Russel Bottas swap?
Post by: Scott on June 28, 2021, 07:53:05 AM
I have never been a Bottas fan, but I am not convinced yet that George will be the next to lead Mercedes when Lewis moves on.  Albon was also hailed as the up and coming guy to keep Max honest, and well….

I would be happy if Merc installed a driver capable of staying on Lewis’ tail and taking a win when Lewis has issues, but I’m not so sure Russell is that driver.
Title: Re: 2022 Russel Bottas swap?
Post by: Andy B on June 29, 2021, 12:41:39 AM
Looking at GR's performances in the Williams against his teammates then he should be given the opportunity as LH is not going to be there for many more years so to drop someone in the seat after he has gone is a bigger risk. When GR was put in the car he drove the legs off it even though he didn't fit in it and had not driven it in anger before so a one year contract is not so much of a risk.
Title: Re: 2022 Russel Bottas swap?
Post by: Alianora La Canta on July 05, 2021, 04:35:59 AM
I think it will be Russell, if only because Mercedes risks McLaren poaching George (to replace Ricciardo, alas) if they don't make a move.
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