What about Bottas? At this rate Id place a bet on the Boston Red Sox winning a World Series than Bottas winning a race. Christmas came early and it was a lump of coal.
and how ironic that the odds are, the car he vacated to drive for Mercedies, was the car the debris came from which gave him the puncture which prevented him from winning ( when Aitken knocked his front wing off )
Absolutely gutted for Russell but with his performance over the weekend it'll not be long before he's in a championship-winning car! Great move on Bottas though, Lewis might find contract negotiations a little more difficult. It's mental to think that Perez potentially has a single race left, i'd take him over Albon any day!!
That was based on having mis-matched tyres... seeing on twatter merc put bottas' tyres on russel's car, which is a different issue.
Bottas looks like a man who has been beaten these last few years. I am surprised he still wants to be on the grid I have wondered for a long time if Toto and Lewis will retire together end of this season. Lewis has so many other commitments now and the same with Toto. I dont think Lewis new deal is down to money, Merc will pay whatever he asks for him to be the brand, He sells Mercedes cars simple as that. He will be bringing in 5-10 times his wages in deals that help merc make money. Which leads on to toto who also has alot of other commitments. Does lewis want to continue for a Toto free merc, I dont think he personally does which is why the delay has gone as long as it has. Russel could get his dream merc drive.
Dunno why but I kinda thing Lewis wants a stake in the team rather than more money. It's already his team, but I think part of him wants it to be his team.
If the FIA wanted to throw the book at Mercedes for it they would probably just give the team a fine rather than punishing Russel.
Pretty much €20k fine and the drop in classification was punishment enough https://www.google.com/amp/s/amp.fo...sakhir-grand-prix.3PwKTGxftR3C8ACA5DcDKj.html Everytime Lewis challenges a pit call you jave to wonder if this is exactly what is going through his head.
I think it shows that the Merc team is not invincible as has been brought up. A good driver call of we staying out has probably won lewis more races than the safety stop would of cost him had it gone wrong.
Pit stops have always been an issue for Merc. It isnt the first time something has went wrong. Germany 2018 Hamilton diving into the pits late, i also remember Bottas not having tyres ready on occasion (cant remember exact race) and a Hamiton stop were they pulled out about 3 sets before finally bolting one on
Just a reminder, Netflix was in the Mercedes pits, because they followed Russel that weekend. I guess they are going to be permabanned from Mercedes from now on, they bring bad luck to them .
I wonder if Russell will be part of Hamilton's contract negotiations, but in that Hamilton will want a more dangerous/capable opponent to race against. Bump Bottas back to Williams.
From what I've heard Hamilton say in interviews, he still enjoys racing but desperately wants a decent fight with someone. He's mentioned a few times about the max/red bull challenge not appearing and you can see the disappointment in his face when he does. I honestly believe he wants closer competition to overcome and undoubtedly become the greatest in the modern era. Bottas just hasn't got it, he's a very competent and consistent driver, but he hasn't got that edge of a proper title challenger, both in his race craft and in particular to challenge Hamilton mentally. That was what won Rosberg the championship, he unsettled Hamilton before he even got in the car. I don't know if George has that, or if he can rely on his raw talent and youthful exuberance, but Bottas has had more than enough chances now.
