George Russell

[Exige77]

I think George was fastest in today’s test.

And he didn’t crash unlike LeC.

[FourWheelDrift]

Yes, 0.08s off Bottas's time set yesterday and 0.2s faster than Leclerc today.

[anonymous-user]

Exige77 said:

I think George was fastest in today’s test.

And he didn’t crash unlike LeC.

Just imagine what is going through Russell's head.

He goes from the worst car on the grid to the best and sets a fantastic time knowing he has to sit in the Williams for 2020.

It must be like making your Christmas list and getting nothing.

[Exige77]

ELUSIVEJIM said:

Exige77 said:

I think George was fastest in today’s test.

And he didn’t crash unlike LeC.

Just imagine what is going through Russell's head.

He goes from the worst car on the grid to the best and sets a fantastic time knowing he has to sit in the Williams for 2020.

It must be like making your Christmas list and getting nothing.

Yes, soul destroying but he seems a well grounded guy. Got the speed but also a good temperament.

He would be a good face for any brand.

And he eats meat and doesn’t wear silky clothes which is a big bonus in my eyes.

[Lebo44]

FourWheelDrift said:

Yes, 0.08s off Bottas's time set yesterday and 0.2s faster than Leclerc today.

One important difference is that Bottas had C4 2019 compound, Leclect C5 2019 while Russell C5 2020. We don't know what is the estimated difference between 2019 and 2020 tires, do we?

Also Latifi on C4 2020 was faster than Russell on C5 2020 yesterday by 0.2 sec.

Edited by Lebo44 on Wednesday 4th December 16:44

[FourWheelDrift]

Last time the 2020 tyres were used (Austin) the drivers didn't like them and said they had less grip.

[Munter]

FourWheelDrift said:

Last time the 2020 tyres were used (Austin) the drivers didn't like them and said they had less grip.

Presumably though they have taken that feedback, and these 2020 tyres are different to the previous test 2020 tyres.

[anonymous-user]

Exige77 said:

Yes, soul destroying but he seems a well grounded guy. Got the speed but also a good temperament.

He would be a good face for any brand.

And he eats meat and doesn’t wear silky clothes which is a big bonus in my eyes.

Bottas will need to be on point in 2020. The first half of the season he was quite impressive but Hamilton soon got into his head again

[mattikake]

ELUSIVEJIM said:

Exige77 said:

Yes, soul destroying but he seems a well grounded guy. Got the speed but also a good temperament.

He would be a good face for any brand.

And he eats meat and doesn’t wear silky clothes which is a big bonus in my eyes.

Bottas will need to be on point in 2020. The first half of the season he was quite impressive but Hamilton soon got into his head again

Hamilton rarely has a fast start to a season. He needs to be pushed before he enters compete mode (that I'm not even sure he is aware he has). Bottas 2.0 was a bs misnomer from the ever hopeful media. It was never 2.0. It was Lewis in cruise mode.

[kiseca]

mattikake said:

ELUSIVEJIM said:

Exige77 said:

Yes, soul destroying but he seems a well grounded guy. Got the speed but also a good temperament.

He would be a good face for any brand.

And he eats meat and doesn’t wear silky clothes which is a big bonus in my eyes.

Bottas will need to be on point in 2020. The first half of the season he was quite impressive but Hamilton soon got into his head again

Hamilton rarely has a fast start to a season. He needs to be pushed before he enters compete mode (that I'm not even sure he is aware he has). Bottas 2.0 was a bs misnomer from the ever hopeful media. It was never 2.0. It was Lewis in cruise mode.

I'm sure Bottas got more competitive this year. Equal on poles with Lewis this year, and second in the championship - first time he's ever been runner up, despite 3 seasons now in the Merc. I do agree though, Lewis seems to cruise when not under pressure.

[jules_s]

I'm still not warming to him (at all)

[85Carrera]

jules_s said:

I'm still not warming to him (at all)

I like him but I lost a lot of respect for him telling Sky at least twice today that they should just do two laps “for the classification”

[mw88]

85Carrera said:

I like him but I lost a lot of respect for him telling Sky at least twice today that they should just do two laps “for the classification”

Can you blame him? Anyone would have done the same in his position. He would have had no chance of keeping the position if they'd gone racing.

He did a great job yesterday in tricky conditions.

[Jasandjules]

85Carrera said:

I like him but I lost a lot of respect for him telling Sky at least twice today that they should just do two laps “for the classification”

I assume that is because he gets half points which are the most he is likely to get this season.. And those points with two Williams in the points could boost his former team standings and thus money for next season....

As with Lewis, whatever way you look at it, the guy can drive. Really, really drive.. I mean, to drag a Williams into second yesterday in the wet........

[85Carrera]

Jasandjules said:

85Carrera said:

I like him but I lost a lot of respect for him telling Sky at least twice today that they should just do two laps “for the classification”

I assume that is because he gets half points which are the most he is likely to get this season.. And those points with two Williams in the points could boost his former team standings and thus money for next season....

As with Lewis, whatever way you look at it, the guy can drive. Really, really drive.. I mean, to drag a Williams into second yesterday in the wet........

Fair comment about the points. I saw it more of him being desperate for an unearned (other than in qualifying) podium, so was perhaps judging him harshly

[thegreenhell]

85Carrera said:

I like him but I lost a lot of respect for him telling Sky at least twice today that they should just do two laps “for the classification”

A guy who has only scored four points for his team in three years isn't going to turn down an easy nine points and his first F1 trophy. I don't think his team would be very happy with him if he did, either.

[Sandpit Steve]

thegreenhell said:

85Carrera said:

I like him but I lost a lot of respect for him telling Sky at least twice today that they should just do two laps “for the classification”

A guy who has only scored four points for his team in three years isn't going to turn down an easy nine points and his first F1 trophy. I don't think his team would be very happy with him if he did, either.

Can’t blame George for wanting a farce of a race that leaves him with a trophy.

Blame Masi, the FIA and FOM interests that wanted to see a farce finish with points given out.

[vaud]

thegreenhell said:

A guy who has only scored four points for his team in three years isn't going to turn down an easy nine points and his first F1 trophy. I don't think his team would be very happy with him if he did, either.

Agreed - he's potentially secured 8th place for Williams which will have significant impact for them.

[glazbagun]

vaud said:

thegreenhell said:

A guy who has only scored four points for his team in three years isn't going to turn down an easy nine points and his first F1 trophy. I don't think his team would be very happy with him if he did, either.

Agreed - he's potentially secured 8th place for Williams which will have significant impact for them.

A huge chunk of luck, but a piece that he earned on Saturday.

[TheDeuce]

vaud said:

thegreenhell said:

A guy who has only scored four points for his team in three years isn't going to turn down an easy nine points and his first F1 trophy. I don't think his team would be very happy with him if he did, either.

Agreed - he's potentially secured 8th place for Williams which will have significant impact for them.

He earned it on Saturday - although it's not truly earned until the potential set by one's qualifying position is cemented during the race. Weird circumstances today of course, and it's undeniable that he wouldn't have been P2 had he not been P2 on Saturday.

If I were him though, happy as today has been, I wouldn't be celebrating it as a personal achievement - at least not openly. Yes the quali P2 was a valid personal achievement, but he already celebrated that. Nothing he did today warranted additional pride or celebration, just a lucky day from his perspective.