The Official F1 2021 silly season *contains speculation*
Discussion
Gtom said:
Surely Mercedes should pony up some money to keep Russel in his seat? He is being kept in the wings by them to be a replacement for a 7 or 8 times world champion.
How does the poor lad deal with the fact he has beaten both team mates he has had, is lined up to replace one of the greatest drivers of all time but this isn’t enough and may be without a drive next season?
The more I think about it the more a season as a development driver for Mercedes wouldn't necessarily be a terrible thing, should it come to that (i.e. if he simply doesn't have a race seat in 2021). Properly integrate into the team/factory and how everything works, do a load of sim work, get a few free practice sessions from Bottas and then be ready for 2022.How does the poor lad deal with the fact he has beaten both team mates he has had, is lined up to replace one of the greatest drivers of all time but this isn’t enough and may be without a drive next season?
Russell needs time in the midfield before he's ready for Mercedes. It would be a huge leap to put him straight into a potential championship situation when he's only ever come last in F1. He hasn't even scored a single point yet, so you can't talk about him as a potential Hamilton replacement. If he's really being groomed for the role then they need to actually do some grooming, and not just hold him at the back forever. At the moment it just feels more like a safety net in case Bottas leaves suddenly, rather than preparing for future greatness.
Gtom said:
Surely Mercedes should pony up some money to keep Russel in his seat? He is being kept in the wings by them to be a replacement for a 7 or 8 times world champion.
How does the poor lad deal with the fact he has beaten both team mates he has had, is lined up to replace one of the greatest drivers of all time but this isn’t enough and may be without a drive next season?
I suspect that he might replace Valteri in 2022, rather than Lewis anytime soon.How does the poor lad deal with the fact he has beaten both team mates he has had, is lined up to replace one of the greatest drivers of all time but this isn’t enough and may be without a drive next season?
I was under the impression that Merc were paying for Russell's seat, or at least giving Williams a hefty discount on engines?
Haas replacing their drivers is at least two years overdue. Everybody else would have at least dropped one of them in favour of a young driver with money and kept the other for development. Now they need two pay drivers and there is only one available with any experience.
Haas replacing their drivers is at least two years overdue. Everybody else would have at least dropped one of them in favour of a young driver with money and kept the other for development. Now they need two pay drivers and there is only one available with any experience.
thegreenhell said:
Russell needs time in the midfield before he's ready for Mercedes. It would be a huge leap to put him straight into a potential championship situation when he's only ever come last in F1. He hasn't even scored a single point yet, so you can't talk about him as a potential Hamilton replacement. If he's really being groomed for the role then they need to actually do some grooming, and not just hold him at the back forever. At the moment it just feels more like a safety net in case Bottas leaves suddenly, rather than preparing for future greatness.
I get your point and he does risk becoming Esteban Ocon and left standing when the music stops.However, going from Sauber directly to Ferrari and a race-winning car didn't do Charles LeClerc any harm......
RonaldMcDonaldAteMyCat said:
thegreenhell said:
Russell needs time in the midfield before he's ready for Mercedes. It would be a huge leap to put him straight into a potential championship situation when he's only ever come last in F1.
Hamilton did alright coming in to a top position with no exprience. 
king around at the back in a st car. It's not about experience, but about being race sharp.thegreenhell said:
RonaldMcDonaldAteMyCat said:
thegreenhell said:
Russell needs time in the midfield before he's ready for Mercedes. It would be a huge leap to put him straight into a potential championship situation when he's only ever come last in F1.
Hamilton did alright coming in to a top position with no exprience. king around at the back in a st car. It's not about experience, but about being race sharp.However I agree, given his time at the back of the field, it does make sense to have some midfield time to get back to his best.
thegreenhell said:
He did, but he came from fighting for and winning another championship. Russell has just been fking around at the back in a st car. It's not about experience, but about being race sharp.
Where, exactly, is he lacking this race sharpness?king around at the back in a st car. It's not about experience, but about being race sharp.He has form in GP2; arguably consistently outdriving the car in quali but goes backwards from lack of race pace nor does he have a reputation for making contact with rivals.
I see no reason why Merc should get rid of Bottas and replace with George and see how he stacks up with Hamilton - unless Wolff is scared of handling egoes again.
thegreenhell said:
He did, but he came from fighting for and winning another championship. Russell has just been fking around at the back in a st car. It's not about experience, but about being race sharp.
It's about having talent. king around at the back in a st car. It's not about experience, but about being race sharp.You either have it or you dont.
Russell is being schooled constantly by Mercedes, when the call comes, he will be ready no matter what he was doing at the time.
MissChief said:
Giovanazzi should be out IMO, failed to impress at all. Eat one of the Ferrari academy drivers in.
Hello, the year is 2020. Gio-schmo has not been gaining enough accolades.
He has driven solidly and far superior to Kimi and making him look like a tool still hanging around F1 racing just to collect his millions.
entropy said:
MissChief said:
Giovanazzi should be out IMO, failed to impress at all. Eat one of the Ferrari academy drivers in.
Hello, the year is 2020. Gio-schmo has not been gaining enough accolades.
He has driven solidly and far superior to Kimi and making him look like a tool still hanging around F1 racing just to collect his millions.
a nationalistic phase at the moment. Thats why Ferrari have been rubbish.
RonaldMcDonaldAteMyCat said:
thegreenhell said:
Russell needs time in the midfield before he's ready for Mercedes. It would be a huge leap to put him straight into a potential championship situation when he's only ever come last in F1.
Hamilton did alright coming in to a top position with no exprience. Also Mazepin at Hass. He has done nothing in his 2 seasons in f2
vulture1 said:
He also made alot of mistakes. Albon level mistakes, IE after passing someone rejoining infront of them too early or chopping them off to take the racing line. Case in point many a run ins he had with massa and maldonado. He has now learned to avoid that.
Also Mazepin at Hass. He has done nothing in his 2 seasons in f2
The Massa incidents came after he won his championship and Massa was being an arse as much as Lewis was making errors in his pussy cat dolled up brain fog. Lewis was close to perfect in his first two years and would have won both championships had his team not screwed up.Also Mazepin at Hass. He has done nothing in his 2 seasons in f2
jsf said:
vulture1 said:
He also made alot of mistakes. Albon level mistakes, IE after passing someone rejoining infront of them too early or chopping them off to take the racing line. Case in point many a run ins he had with massa and maldonado. He has now learned to avoid that.
Also Mazepin at Hass. He has done nothing in his 2 seasons in f2
The Massa incidents came after he won his championship and Massa was being an arse as much as Lewis was making errors in his pussy cat dolled up brain fog. Lewis was close to perfect in his first two years and would have won both championships had his team not screwed up.Also Mazepin at Hass. He has done nothing in his 2 seasons in f2
It would’ve a good move for Williams to replace Russel with Perez.
He’s a dependable driver with a tasty sponsorship.
Russel isn’t a long term driver for Williams
I wouldn’t put Russel straight in a merc, he could do with an established teammate first to see how he’s stacks up, all he’s had so far is kubica, who we all
Know by now was more than rusty, and latifi, who hasn’t set the world alight in feeder series.
Russel needs work on his race pace and starts.
He’s a dependable driver with a tasty sponsorship.
Russel isn’t a long term driver for Williams
I wouldn’t put Russel straight in a merc, he could do with an established teammate first to see how he’s stacks up, all he’s had so far is kubica, who we all
Know by now was more than rusty, and latifi, who hasn’t set the world alight in feeder series.
Russel needs work on his race pace and starts.
Edited by usn90 on Friday 23 October 15:05
usn90 said:
It would’ve a good move for Williams to replace Russel with Perez.
He’s a dependable driver with a tasty sponsorship.
Russel isn’t a long term driver for Williams
I wouldn’t put Russel straight in a merc, he could do with an established teammate first to see how he’s stacks up, all he’s had so far is kubica, who we all
Know by now was more than rusty, and latifi, who hasn’t set the world alight in feeder series.
Russel needs work on his race pace and starts.
I disagree, Russell has done plenty to be worthy of the Mercedes seat. Don't forget he finished as 2018 champion in F2, ahead of Norris and Albon, Latifi was 9th.He’s a dependable driver with a tasty sponsorship.
Russel isn’t a long term driver for Williams
I wouldn’t put Russel straight in a merc, he could do with an established teammate first to see how he’s stacks up, all he’s had so far is kubica, who we all
Know by now was more than rusty, and latifi, who hasn’t set the world alight in feeder series.
Russel needs work on his race pace and starts.
Edited by usn90 on Friday 23 October 15:05
usn90 said:
It would’ve a good move for Williams to replace Russel with Perez.
He’s a dependable driver with a tasty sponsorship.
Russel isn’t a long term driver for Williams
Short term gain for long-term pain.He’s a dependable driver with a tasty sponsorship.
Russel isn’t a long term driver for Williams
Edited by usn90 on Friday 23 October 15:05
They will no longer get discounted engines from Mercedes and will receive the wrath of a Terror Toto.
The interview of Perez seemed to suggest he was not interested in just making-up the numbers at the back of the grid.
He has a decent offer from a McLaren to do Indy - I think his style would fit very well in the US, if McLaren can deliver on their promise.
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