George Russell's teammate for 2025?
Discussion
I had brunch (whatever that is) with my office manager, albeit three times. My boss called me in to warn me of the dangers of office romances. As an aside, my office manager was a lesbian, and at that time living with a female PC.
It's breakfast. Much as I would enjoy Alonso at Merc, there is very limited evidence to support. Come to that, anywhere but McLaren is my view. I mean fun only goes so far.
As for Russell, I'm sure that he'd love to beat the aging Alonso in equal cars.
It's breakfast. Much as I would enjoy Alonso at Merc, there is very limited evidence to support. Come to that, anywhere but McLaren is my view. I mean fun only goes so far.
As for Russell, I'm sure that he'd love to beat the aging Alonso in equal cars.
andyA700 said:
I would love to see either Bottas or Alonso at MB, it would really shake GR up.
I don't get all the Bottas speculation in recent posts. He was at least as bad in 2021 as Perez was last year. Failing to beat Verstappen several times that he should have (memorably Saudi) and trundling round miles off the pace in Abu Dhabi meant he was second only to Michael Masi in gifting Max that title.In Spain (don't recall if it was '20 or '21) he chose to make a point when he should have let Hamilton through, when the two were on different strategies. At least when Perez is slow he's able to see the bigger picture and drive for the team...
The idea that he'd shake Russell up is laughable. Russell was faster than him straight out of the box in Sakhir, in a car that Bottas had been driving all season and in which Russell didn't fit. Their collision in Imola happened because Russell was faster in a Williams than Bottas was in a Mercedes. Russell wouldn't want him as a team-mate I'm sure, but only because he'd want someone faster.
maz8062 said:
Muzzer79 said:
It's worth pointing out that Russell will have had 6 seasons in F1 by the time we get to 2025. That's experience in the garage, whichever way you look at it. He's shown he can deal with a s
tbox car, he's shown he can win if the car is good.
He doesn't have a WDC but if that's a pre-requisite then there's only Unobtainium Verstappen, Departing Hamilton or Soon-to-retire-Alonso.
At some points in the F1 cycle, you have to bet on the next star. Red Bull found it in Verstappen and Vettel before him. McLaren found it all those years ago in Senna, then Hakkinen and then Hamilton himself.
Russell may need controlling emotionally, but he has the speed, of that there is no doubt. Emotions are easier to coach than natural speed.....
In all my 40 years watching F1 I haven’t seen drivers like GR winning multiple WDC’s or leading teams like Merc. You could argue Mika or JB but I think it is rare. GR leading the Williams team is a good indicator of what he can do when leading a team - error prone, bottle job, choker are how I would describe his Williams days and the boy Albon has delivered more.tbox car, he's shown he can win if the car is good. He doesn't have a WDC but if that's a pre-requisite then there's only Unobtainium Verstappen, Departing Hamilton or Soon-to-retire-Alonso.
At some points in the F1 cycle, you have to bet on the next star. Red Bull found it in Verstappen and Vettel before him. McLaren found it all those years ago in Senna, then Hakkinen and then Hamilton himself.
Russell may need controlling emotionally, but he has the speed, of that there is no doubt. Emotions are easier to coach than natural speed.....
That said, I suspect that Merc will gamble with GR as leader and claim to be directing investment into the team, car, infrastructure etc. against Charles, Max and Lando they’ll need a lot more or they’ll be 4th best and lost.
I agree that Albon is better than Russell. He has driven multiple races like Canada last year where one slip up would lose points positions and 4-6 places and got the results. he's fast. he's consistent, and he is committed. Red Bull was just not an environment that he could operate in - that doesn't make him a bad driver, it makes Red Bull a bad team. Russell makes mistakes like the one in Singapore...
Russell is JB level at best, indeed shows many similarities in his approach (insidious and laughably unsubtle undermining - a pound shop Machiavelli) to being Hamilton's team mate.
Russell is JB level at best, indeed shows many similarities in his approach (insidious and laughably unsubtle undermining - a pound shop Machiavelli) to being Hamilton's team mate.
Over the years when people have suggested that a top team should hire Alonso, I have discounted it because of the high maintanance/disturbance that is inherent to him.
Now it could make sense. He seems to have mellowed and knows that he is at the twilight of his career. Instead of feeling entitled to have a top car, he would grateful. He wouldn´t be blocking Antonelli´s path. He is still fast and would bring star power to Merc after Hamilton´s departure.
Now it could make sense. He seems to have mellowed and knows that he is at the twilight of his career. Instead of feeling entitled to have a top car, he would grateful. He wouldn´t be blocking Antonelli´s path. He is still fast and would bring star power to Merc after Hamilton´s departure.
Alonso is a great talent but a difficult character.
Put him in the Mercedes and it would be fireworks between Fred, Lewis and Max. You'd see some proper hard racing if the cars performance was similar.
George is 2nd tier, certainly very good, but he's missing something. He's more a Nico Rosberg than a Hamilton.
Put him in the Mercedes and it would be fireworks between Fred, Lewis and Max. You'd see some proper hard racing if the cars performance was similar.
George is 2nd tier, certainly very good, but he's missing something. He's more a Nico Rosberg than a Hamilton.
Finlandese said:
Over the years when people have suggested that a top team should hire Alonso, I have discounted it because of the high maintanance/disturbance that is inherent to him.
Now it could make sense. He seems to have mellowed and knows that he is at the twilight of his career. Instead of feeling entitled to have a top car, he would grateful. He wouldn´t be blocking Antonelli´s path. He is still fast and would bring star power to Merc after Hamilton´s departure.
He'll be expensive and short-term. I wouldn't put him in a top team, now.Now it could make sense. He seems to have mellowed and knows that he is at the twilight of his career. Instead of feeling entitled to have a top car, he would grateful. He wouldn´t be blocking Antonelli´s path. He is still fast and would bring star power to Merc after Hamilton´s departure.
Forester1965 said:
Their respective careers don't bear that out, so far.
Albon has done well in a back marker car but also shrank into obscurity in the Red Bull.
I rate Alex, in the right team with the experience he now has he would do very well. The 2nd RB seat is toxic for most drivers.Albon has done well in a back marker car but also shrank into obscurity in the Red Bull.
Forester1965 said:
Finlandese said:
Over the years when people have suggested that a top team should hire Alonso, I have discounted it because of the high maintanance/disturbance that is inherent to him.
Now it could make sense. He seems to have mellowed and knows that he is at the twilight of his career. Instead of feeling entitled to have a top car, he would grateful. He wouldn´t be blocking Antonelli´s path. He is still fast and would bring star power to Merc after Hamilton´s departure.
He'll be expensive and short-term. I wouldn't put him in a top team, now.Now it could make sense. He seems to have mellowed and knows that he is at the twilight of his career. Instead of feeling entitled to have a top car, he would grateful. He wouldn´t be blocking Antonelli´s path. He is still fast and would bring star power to Merc after Hamilton´s departure.
I don´t think Alonso would be expensive. I am sure he would forgo money for performance.
I think it´s pretty unlikely, but could make sense for all parties involved.
Finlandese said:
Over the years when people have suggested that a top team should hire Alonso, I have discounted it because of the high maintanance/disturbance that is inherent to him.
Now it could make sense. He seems to have mellowed and knows that he is at the twilight of his career. Instead of feeling entitled to have a top car, he would grateful. He wouldn´t be blocking Antonelli´s path. He is still fast and would bring star power to Merc after Hamilton´s departure.
This does make a lot of sense let’s hope so !Now it could make sense. He seems to have mellowed and knows that he is at the twilight of his career. Instead of feeling entitled to have a top car, he would grateful. He wouldn´t be blocking Antonelli´s path. He is still fast and would bring star power to Merc after Hamilton´s departure.
PlywoodPascal said:
Russell is JB level at best, indeed shows many similarities in his approach (insidious and laughably unsubtle undermining - a pound shop Machiavelli) to being Hamilton's team mate.
Are you referring to the JB who was a World Champion and the only man to have beaten both Hamilton and Alonso over a season in the same car? I think that's an okay level to be at.520TORQUES said:
George is 2nd tier, certainly very good, but he's missing something. He's more a Nico Rosberg than a Hamilton.
Perhaps, but I think that still makes him probably the fourth best driver on the grid behind Hamilton, Verstappen and Alonso. I think I still rate him ahead of Leclerc or Norris. 520TORQUES said:
kambites said:
Perhaps, but I think that still makes him probably the fourth best driver on the grid behind Hamilton, Verstappen and Alonso. I think I still rate him ahead of Leclerc or Norris.
Leclerc is faster, if only he can stop crashing!
kambites said:
520TORQUES said:
kambites said:
Perhaps, but I think that still makes him probably the fourth best driver on the grid behind Hamilton, Verstappen and Alonso. I think I still rate him ahead of Leclerc or Norris.
Leclerc is faster, if only he can stop crashing!Albon v Russell
I was in the Williams garage in 2019, Russell’s first season race with the team. He was present for much of the weekend looking at data, talking to the engineers and mechanics. Each time he got out of the car they would be gathered round the screens for a debrief. Quite the contrast to Kubica who would appear a few minutes before he had to get in the car and disappear equally quickly.
Same team same race last season. Albon barely present and when he was it was more like he was a hanger on or part of a driver’s entourage. He hung at the back of any group, very little engagement.
In terms of leading a team, quite the contrast there.
I was in the Williams garage in 2019, Russell’s first season race with the team. He was present for much of the weekend looking at data, talking to the engineers and mechanics. Each time he got out of the car they would be gathered round the screens for a debrief. Quite the contrast to Kubica who would appear a few minutes before he had to get in the car and disappear equally quickly.
Same team same race last season. Albon barely present and when he was it was more like he was a hanger on or part of a driver’s entourage. He hung at the back of any group, very little engagement.
In terms of leading a team, quite the contrast there.
Gassing Station | Formula 1 | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff