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2020 Formula 1 Season Thread

The-Real-Deal82 said:
It would be interesting to see Russell and how he behaves alongside Lewis who has been his idol up until now. Does he have the ruthless instinct to shoulder barge Lewis aside to make his mark or would he be a complying number two? I think Mercedes should be looking at the future now as Lewis is in the latter quarter of his F1 career and Russell’s generation are the future. They’d be in trouble if Lewis retired and Bottas became lead driver as I don’t think he’s good enough personally. He’s a great number two and doesn’t create any tension that we know of however.

Russell certainly impressed for me and if I were Toto I’d be getting his signature on a contract for 2022.
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I think he has a slightly calmer head than Lewis did when he first started in F1 so might well be content with a "learning season" getting comfortable in the team and car and learning from Lewis before becoming the team leader
 
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robbieduncan said:
I think he has a slightly calmer head than Lewis did when he first started in F1 so might well be content with a "learning season" getting comfortable in the team and car and learning from Lewis before becoming the team leader
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He certainly seems a lot more reserved at the same age I agree. Hamilton did have a bit of a pressure cooker style first season by comparison too whereas George has had much less expectation put upon him. Lewis was matching a double world champion in his first practise session which raised eyebrows and the marketing machine interfered with the management of two very ego driven individuals. I think Russell is more mature and more humble about his incredibly fortunate position.
 
The-Real-Deal82 said:
It would be interesting to see Russell and how he behaves alongside Lewis who has been his idol up until now. Does he have the ruthless instinct to shoulder barge Lewis aside to make his mark or would he be a complying number two? I think Mercedes should be looking at the future now as Lewis is in the latter quarter of his F1 career and Russell’s generation are the future. They’d be in trouble if Lewis retired and Bottas became lead driver as I don’t think he’s good enough personally. He’s a great number two and doesn’t create any tension that we know of however.

Russell certainly impressed for me and if I were Toto I’d be getting his signature on a contract for 2022.
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If Lewis retires, there is no way they would make Bottas their number one driver.
 
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I feel so bad for Russell. And now, back to a 's l o w e r' car.
But, that overtake on lap 70, like a flipping Boss...!?!

PS: Lewis needs to retire, and let Russell take over. Yep, I said it.
 
The-Real-Deal82 said:
They are a long time retired when they go as it is, I’d never wish to see a great of the sport retire while they are still top of their game. The only people who lose out in that scenario are us.
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Touché'. However, my comment is based on that fact that Lewis himself has said, "Not sure for 2021, yet, but, my hunger is still strong..."

Ideally, Russell should replace Bottas. However, I believe Bottas just signed a new deal, or Toto said he is going nowhere for 2021. Regardless, time will tell.
 
teecuptech said:
Touché'. However, my comment is based on that fact that Lewis himself has said, "Not sure for 2021, yet, but, my hunger is still strong..."

Ideally, Russell should replace Bottas. However, I believe Bottas just signed a new deal, or Toto said he is going nowhere for 2021. Regardless, time will tell.
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I think that’s Lewis using the media to his advantage in order to get a better offer out of Mercedes personally. An F1 contract isn’t absolute as we well know so I wouldn’t count on Bottas being there for his entire contract duration. I would expect Russell to be a Mercedes driver in 2022.
 
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The-Real-Deal82 said:
I think that’s Lewis using the media to his advantage in order to get a better offer out of Mercedes personally. An F1 contract isn’t absolute as we well know so I wouldn’t count on Bottas being there for his entire contract duration. I would expect Russell to be a Mercedes driver in 2022.
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I agree. Russell will be in the W13 in 2022. The question will be where will Lewis be mentally? If he takes #8 next season will there still be the intense hunger for a #9 as #8? I think that is a legitimate question. Another unknown will be what contract do Mercedes offer? Not monetarily, but length.....

All these would play heavily in the competition between both drivers.
 
teecuptech said:
Agreed. However, I feel it is the duty of Mercedes, to give Lewis a good competitor.
Bottas is not it...
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I expect what Mercedes wants is a #2 who can bring home the points without causing chaos within the team.

And Bottas is arguably it.

Mercedes (and everyone else) has seen what happens when you have two Alphas in a team - Prost/Senna and Lewis/Alonso at McLaren, Vettel/Webber at Red Bull, even Lewis/Rosberg in their own team to some extent.

When you're spending nine figures a year on F1, you want a return - and that return is WDCs and CCs. The safest way to do that is a #1 who can reliably win and a #2 who can reliably score on the podium. And Mercedes has that with Lewis and Bottas.
 
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The-Real-Deal82 said:
I think that’s Lewis using the media to his advantage in order to get a better offer out of Mercedes personally. An F1 contract isn’t absolute as we well know so I wouldn’t count on Bottas being there for his entire contract duration. I would expect Russell to be a Mercedes driver in 2022.
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I saw it as a negotiation tactic as well. Of course that could backfire as they now have a credible replacement. But can’t see that to be honest.
 
Agree Bottas is the perfect number 2 for Lewis and Mercedes.
I expect Lewis to hang around for number 8. Number 9 might be beyond him. His desire. The new regulations. Then their is the question mark over Toto’s long levity. If he goes, Lewis goes IMO.
 
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Glideslope said:
I agree. Russell will be in the W13 in 2022. The question will be where will Lewis be mentally? If he takes #8 next season will there still be the intense hunger for a #9 as #8? I think that is a legitimate question. Another unknown will be what contract do Mercedes offer? Not monetarily, but length.....

All these would play heavily in the competition between both drivers.
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Only Lewis can answer that and it depends if he’s still enjoying himself. He doesn’t seem to have a wife and kids on the agenda like many other drivers and is enjoying doing what he enjoys best. He’s certainly not slowing down on the track and if anything he’s still improving. I think Mercedes will offer him a 2 year deal as seems to be the standard when drivers approach their mid 30’s. Alonso is 4 years older than Lewis and is still a strong driver, so in a sport where the cars are less physical to drive, Lewis could go another 5 years if he wanted I think.
Apple fanboy said:
I saw it as a negotiation tactic as well. Of course that could backfire as they now have a credible replacement. But can’t see that to be honest.
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I doubt Mercedes would purely commit to Russell as Hamilton’s replacement after one awesome performance as nothing is a given. Albon had a superb debut for Red Bull don’t forget and performance slipped after that. I do think Russell will be a great addition with the right coaching though. Not sure Mercedes would not offer a contract to Lewis as he’s still firing on all cylinders and hasn’t showed any signs of losing his ability.

His image is also very desirable in Asia and North America where Mercedes like selling cars. The whole marketability comes into play too.
 
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CWallace said:
I expect what Mercedes wants is a #2 who can bring home the points without causing chaos within the team.

And Bottas is arguably it.

Mercedes (and everyone else) has seen what happens when you have two Alphas in a team - Prost/Senna and Lewis/Alonso at McLaren, Vettel/Webber at Red Bull, even Lewis/Rosberg in their own team to some extent.

When you're spending nine figures a year on F1, you want a return - and that return is WDCs and CCs. The safest way to do that is a #1 who can reliably win and a #2 who can reliably score on the podium. And Mercedes has that with Lewis and Bottas.
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Like it or not - that's exactly how it is.
 
Hear me out...

Lewis has won this seasons championship, and so Mercedes won the 7th constructors championship.
With the above in mind, would it not be noble of Lewis, to let Russell drive in the last race (even if his Covid19 test is negative) of the season?

Then, come 2021, Lewis, if he so wishes, can continue his quest for an 8th title, etcetera.

Honestly, I think it is the gentlemanly thing to do.

Thoughts...?
 
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BenTrovato said:
The plot thickens...

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The Daily Mail posted an article yesterday in response to the rumors saying it will not happen and that Bottas and Russel will stay with Mercedes and Williams, respectively and while Wolff has not explicitly denied it, his comments reinforce that Lewis and Bottas are signed for 2021 with Mercedes and Russel is signed for Williams for 2021.

And I find it hard to believe that one drive - as good as it was - would make Mercedes suddenly decide to drop Bottas and hire Russell.

Bottas received his contract extension in August and Russel received his in July and was reconfirmed in October when Williams was sold to Dorilton Capital. So unless both contracts had clauses allowing for a swap / transfer, even if Wolff suddently wanted Russel in the team for 2021 I don't see Dorilton letting Russel go for cheap since they just invested a fair bit of money into the team and Russel is the performer for them who might through luck actually score team points. And they would also have to buy out Bottas' 2021 contract and that will be in the neighborhood of 8-10 million based on what he is being paid for this year.

As such, I think both drivers will stay with Mercedes and Williams, respectively, in 2021. But I do think Russel has a very good chance to be extended a contract with Mercedes in 2022, either replacing Lewis (should he retire or lose his mind and go to Ferrari to close out his career) or Bottas (if Lewis decides to continue racing with Mercedes).
 
CWallace said:
The Daily Mail posted an article yesterday in response to the rumors saying it will not happen and that Bottas and Russel will stay with Mercedes and Williams, respectively and while Wolff has not explicitly denied it, his comments reinforce that Lewis and Bottas are signed for 2021 with Mercedes and Russel is signed for Williams for 2021.
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If a scum rag like the Daily Fail are reporting Bottas is staying and Toto is denying Russell is joining, that pretty much confirms George is moving to Merc next year lol. F1 contracts aren’t worth the paper they are written on when the wealth of buying them out is so easy in this billion pound sport.
 
Yeah, they don't call it "The Daily Fail" for nothing, but I still think the status quo will be maintained unless Lewis retires or leaves.
 
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