[isleaiw1]

Originally Posted by zofinger

But fortunately didn't prevent him from equalling 7 WCs or most GPs won. It could have - easily.

Contrary to reports, perhaps he did celebrate a little more after winning in Turkey and in the lead up to the last GP. He's always maintained that he doesn't go anywhere and at circuits confines himself to the trailer. Let's hope he's not badly affected as he's not asymptomatic.

It seems from reports he knows who he has caught it from - which is perfect story to support the governments actions, you can control what you do but not others so by mixing you dont know what risk you are taking...

[Goneinsixtyseconds]

Originally Posted by zofinger

But fortunately didn't prevent him from equalling 7 WCs or most GPs won. It could have - easily.

Contrary to reports, perhaps he did celebrate a little more after winning in Turkey and in the lead up to the last GP. He's always maintained that he doesn't go anywhere and at circuits confines himself to the trailer. Let's hope he's not badly affected as he's not asymptomatic.

I think it’s unlikely that it would have stopped him wining either the championship or beating the number of GP’s won. I know it could be serious, but at his age and fitness levels it’s likely to a couple of weeks out max. Whenever that happened this year, I don’t think it would have made much difference.

[RustyBitz]

Hopefully he will be able to race the last race of the season 🤞

[Tengocity]

Hopefully a chance to get George Russell in a competitive car!

[JustChris]

Covid.

Just another thing Bottas can't catch in F1.

[JNW1]

Originally Posted by Tengocity

Hopefully a chance to get George Russell in a competitive car!

Perhaps but I wonder if that would that cause issues with his contract at Williams? Ordinarily you'd just expect the official reserve driver to take Hamilton's place in which case that will be Vandoorne. However, Hulkenberg doesn't have a current drive and has shown himself to be more than capable of getting up to speed pretty quickly when required; many (including me!) think it's a shame he's never had a chance to show what he can do in a competitive F1 car so maybe his opportunity will come this weekend should Vandoorne be overlooked?

Regardless of who it is, though, Bottas will be under a bit of pressure to out perform them in both qualifying and the race; won't look good if someone is parachuted in and outpaces him....

[Ennoch]

Originally Posted by JNW1

Perhaps but I wonder if that would that cause issues with his contract at Williams? Ordinarily you'd just expect the official reserve driver to take Hamilton's place in which case that will be Vandoorne. However, Hulkenberg doesn't have a current drive and has shown himself to be more than capable of getting up to speed pretty quickly when required; many (including me!) think it's a shame he's never had a chance to show what he can do in a competitive F1 car so maybe his opportunity will come this weekend should Vandoorne be overlooked?

Regardless of who it is, though, Bottas will be under a bit of pressure to out perform them in both qualifying and the race; won't look good if someone is parachuted in and outpaces him....

I suspect Vandoorne would be preferable over Hulkenberg (despite me hoping to see the latter), but as Racing Point are using the Mercedes stuff anyway I doubt there'd be much issue with IP/secrecy between the teams.

The more likely option would be to stick Russell in with a view of seeing him in the seat for 2022, but then do they really need to do that? They know already how good he is and they know all the other stuff we don't because he's under contract with them as a 'junior' anyway. My money would be on Vandoorne in the Merc and Hulkenberg into Grosjean's place with Haas.

[F20MAW73]

Originally Posted by Ennoch

I suspect Vandoorne would be preferable over Hulkenberg (despite me hoping to see the latter), but as Racing Point are using the Mercedes stuff anyway I doubt there'd be much issue with IP/secrecy between the teams.

The more likely option would be to stick Russell in with a view of seeing him in the seat for 2022, but then do they really need to do that? They know already how good he is and they know all the other stuff we don't because he's under contract with them as a 'junior' anyway. My money would be on Vandoorne in the Merc and Hulkenberg into Grosjean's place with Haas.

I would love to see George Russell get a shot in the Mercedes. It would be funny it he beat Bottas.

A bloody good job Hamilton had the title wrapped up q few weeks ago.

[Tengocity]

Our wish to see Russell in a competitive car has been granted!

[Kyuuseishu]

Originally Posted by Tengocity

Our wish to see Russell in a competitive car has been granted!

It will be interesting to see how well he makes the transition to a car which is light years ahead of the one he's been driving. I think Bottas will be on high alert the coming weekend as this was a guy who was potentially replacing him! He'll want to show he was and will be the right choice.

[Ronstein]

And Mick Schumacher is driving for HAAS in 2021!

[RustyBitz]

Can't wait to see Russel this weekend. COVID is shit but in F1 has given us some great watching with super-sub Hülkenberg and now Russel in the Mercedes

[Ennoch]

Bloody hell, that's amazing to see Russell get an opportunity! He can't lose while Bottas has everything to lose.

No news on who the second HAAS driver will be this weekend yet though it seems...Schumacher? Hulk? And who takes the vacant Williams seat?

Edit to say HAAS clearly won't be Schumacher as I'd forgotten they were racing there in F2 this weekend too.

[Wills2]

Originally Posted by Ennoch

Bloody hell, that's amazing to see Russell get an opportunity! He can't lose while Bottas has everything to lose.

No news on who the second HAAS driver will be this weekend yet though it seems...Schumacher? Hulk? And who takes the vacant Williams seat?

Edit to say HAAS clearly won't be Schumacher as I'd forgotten they were racing there in F2 this weekend too.

Fittipaldi is driving the HAAS this weekend, Jack Aitken to drive the Williams.

[JNW1]

Originally Posted by Ennoch

Bloody hell, that's amazing to see Russell get an opportunity! He can't lose while Bottas has everything to lose.

I agree Bottas has everything to lose but nothing to gain; in Hamilton's absence he'll be expected to take charge of the weekend but if he does everyone will say "so he should" while if he doesn't people will inevitably start pointing the finger. And the nightmare scenario for him is obviously to be upstaged by Russell...

Not sure I agree Russell can't lose though. He's been racing in F1 for two seasons so he has current experience of the tyres, circuits, etc; ok, he doesn't have experience of the 2020 Mercedes but a rookie he isn't. Therefore, if he's going to show potential to be a really top class driver - and look like someone Mercedes should be thinking about putting in the car on a permanent basis in the future - I think he needs a decent showing this weekend. IMO it won't look good if he's half a second off Bottas in qualifying and nowhere near him on race pace...

[Goneinsixtyseconds]

Originally Posted by JNW1

I agree Bottas has everything to lose but nothing to gain; in Hamilton's absence he'll be expected to take charge of the weekend but if he does everyone will say "so he should" while if he doesn't people will inevitably start pointing the finger. And the nightmare scenario for him is obviously to be upstaged by Russell...

Not sure I agree Russell can't lose though. He's been racing in F1 for two seasons so he has current experience of the tyres, circuits, etc; ok, he doesn't have experience of the 2020 Mercedes but a rookie he isn't. Therefore, if he's going to show potential to be a really top class driver - and look like someone Mercedes should be thinking about putting in the car on a permanent basis in the future - I think he needs a decent showing this weekend. IMO it won't look good if he's half a second off Bottas in qualifying and nowhere near him on race pace...

The report I read earlier said that Mercedes asked Williams earlier in the year if they could cut short Russell’s deal and have him back. Williams said no, so they gave Bottas another contract.

Now there’s been an ownership change it appears Williams are being more flexible. I bet Mercedes wish now that they hadn’t re-signed Bottas.

[Wills2]

Bottas has nothing to lose he has a contract for next year already, it's great news for Russell to drive the best car and see what it's like at the pointy end of an F1 GP I just hope he's remembered what he learnt in F2 and keeps out of any trouble in the first lap.

Will be great to watch this weekend.

[Goneinsixtyseconds]

Originally Posted by Wills2

Bottas has nothing to lose he has a contract for next year already, it's great news for Russell to drive the best car and see what it's like at the pointy end of an F1 GP I just hope he's remembered what he learnt in F2 and keeps out of any trouble in the first lap.

Will be great to watch this weekend.

Unless he’s planning retirement totally at the end of next year he does have something to lose. He won’t be increasing his worth to anyone by having a new teammate beat him. It’s one thing being outclassed by Hamilton, but completely different if Russell manages to do it. Think it’s a tall order for him though.

Plus, Bottas might lose a bit of pride and self confidence.

[JNW1]

Originally Posted by Goneinsixtyseconds

Unless he’s planning retirement totally at the end of next year he does have something to lose. He won’t be increasing his worth to anyone by having a new teammate beat him. It’s one thing being outclassed by Hamilton, but completely different if Russell manages to do it. Think it’s a tall order for him though.

Plus, Bottas might lose a bit of pride and self confidence.

Absolutely right; unless Bottas isn't looking beyond next year he has plenty to lose this weekend. In Hamilton's absence he ought to be the main man and if he isn't that won't look good - not a disaster if the only one in front of him is Verstappen but if he struggles to show Russell the way home it will do nothing for his reputation and credibility...

[Wills2]

Originally Posted by Goneinsixtyseconds

Unless he’s planning retirement totally at the end of next year he does have something to lose. He won’t be increasing his worth to anyone by having a new teammate beat him. It’s one thing being outclassed by Hamilton, but completely different if Russell manages to do it. Think it’s a tall order for him though.

Plus, Bottas might lose a bit of pride and self confidence.

People beat down on Bottas but he's already had a better F1 career than most almost at close to 1500 points, 9 wins, 155 starts and 7 years on the grid managed to get himself a seat in the best car on the grid and keep it (not sure Wolff employees fools) not many can say they have beaten the best pole setter ever in the same car, yet suddenly Russell going to eat his lunch...?

Great for Russell but it's a bigger weekend for him than it Bottas, great crystal ball you have as well...

[Goneinsixtyseconds]

Originally Posted by Wills2

People beat down on Bottas but he's already had a better F1 career than most almost at close to 1500 points, 9 wins, 155 starts and 7 years on the grid managed to get himself a seat in the best car on the grid and keep it (not sure Wolff employees fools) not many can say they have beaten the best pole setter ever in the same car, yet suddenly Russell going to eat his lunch...?

Great for Russell but it's a bigger weekend for him than it Bottas, great crystal ball you have as well...

What crystal ball? I just said he might not want to retire. Doesn’t seem like too much of a bold prediction to me.

And I also finished my post saying that it is a tall order for Russell to beat Bottas as well, so no idea what the rest of your post is getting at either.

Nowhere did I say he will beat him, just what the consequences might be if he did, in direct response to you saying he has nothing to lose, which I don’t believe.

[NISFAN]

Modern F1 cars are too complex for a driver to jump in and show up a seasoned team mate. Look at Albon, he's still getting to grips with the RB16 after a season in it. Russell I'm sure will do well, but I don't expect him to be challenging Bottas. IMO if he finishes in the top 6, that will be a great result. I hope I'm wrong.