Even before entering F1, George Russell was already considered one of the great hopes of the specialty. The brilliant display of Lewis Hamilton’s replacement at the Sakhir Grand Prix only confirmed that he is a world champion in the making.
Of course, you are going to say that the 22-year-old Briton was given the wheel of the best single-seater on the grid. We prove you are right. But this advantage is not a guarantee of success.
In other words, a bad driver wouldn’t win behind the wheel of a Mercedes. But what Russell did last weekend is remarkable. Despite an unfamiliar environment and a car that was not ideally suited to his imposing size, he came close to a victory he deserved from the start.
Communication problems
His brilliant run was however ruined by a radio communication problem (depending on Mercedes’ version) which screwed up his stop at the refueling pit when the safety car intervened.
Russell won wherever he went. After having his classes in karting, he was crowned champion of the GP3 series (ex-F3) in 2017 and titled in F2 the following year.
In Bahrain, he delivered a clear message to Mercedes and especially to his weekend-long teammate, Valtteri Bottas, from whom he could take the seat in 2022.
“Lewis is better”
The boss of the Mercedes team gave news on Monday of Hamilton, who, after contracting COVID-19, had to forfeit during this second stopover in Bahrain last week.
“Lewis is doing better,” Toto Wolff said in a statement. If the doctors’ prognosis is favorable, he could test negative on Thursday and get clearance to race. “
Russell is therefore on hold. Going from the best car to the worst is not the ideal scenario to complete the season. But his current employer, Williams, is ready to release him another time if the seven-time world champion is unavailable.
Victorious in Bahrain, Sergio Pérez will have the opportunity to confirm his fourth place in the final drivers’ standings (behind Hamilton, Bottas and Max Verstappen) on Sunday at the last Grand Prix of the season in Abu Dhabi. The Mexican has collected 125 points this year against 112 for Daniel Ricciardo, the only one who can dislodge him from this enviable position.
–
