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After the second race in Bahrain, the world of Mercedes was no longer like it used to be. The reasons: The bad luck of Hamilton’s replacement, George Russell (22), the heart winner, and the poor performance of his teammate Valtteri Bottas (31), are shaking up the long-term winning team’s future driver plans. .
Shortly after the race, team boss Toto Wolff (45) praised Russell and criticized the Finn. Wolff only found words of praise for the young Briton from Mercedes, for whom a failed pit stop on the wrong tires and a puncture cost him victory: “A star is born. Now I have to look within myself about his future.” (SERVICE: driver ranking)
Schumacher: “Bottas has to accelerate now”
On a talk show of Sky Germany, in which Timo Glock was announced as the new expert for 2021, Ralf Schumacher sticks his finger in the wound: “Bottas can be happy that he has a contract. It is a big blow for him, he has to accelerate now. Because they La Formula 1 is dynamic. A contract does not also mean that you have it insurance “. (SERVICE: constructors’ championship)
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Glock adds: “It hurts inside me when Valtteri knows it: he can still lock himself in the forests of Finland for three months in winter, Hamilton is still faster every year and now Russell is too. Last weekend he could have broken it. That too. in your head”. processing is difficult and will gnaw at you. ”
Especially when the team boss praises the potential successor like Wolff does on the same talk show: “Russell made a brilliant application,” said the Viennese. “He didn’t fit in the car, he sat like a monkey on the whetstone. He hit all his knees and his fists were bloody. He had to wear shoes that were too small and he couldn’t push his leg to generate enough brake pressure. Space Five in qualifying and the race would have been completely fine under these circumstances. Then he will take the front row and almost win the race. He far exceeded our expectations. ”
Wolff praises Russell
Wolff has been caring for him since the young Brit was 15 years old. Much sympathy is reflected when the Mercedes motorsport director says: “Back then, George came into my office in a black communion suit with a black tie and wanted to convince me why he is a future Mercedes driver. He had a presentation where everything He said. His strengths, his weaknesses and how he works on the weaknesses. Back then, the real question was whether he could drive Formula 3 for a Tam with Volkswagen engines and still have a chance at Mercedes. He has been with Mercedes ever since. Contract . ”
Just: “We have to keep the ball flat now,” Wolff said. “The priority for the race in Abu Dhabi is for Lewis to recover and get back in the car. If that doesn’t work, everyone will of course look at George again.”
And then the Austrian says words that have to make Bottas think. For the Finn, the situation is not easy at all, “because he is under immense pressure.” The Austrian continues: “On one lap he is very close to Lewis. He can also lead to the finish line. On good days we know what we have in him. But the fact is also: a season starts strong as a bear, but then it diminishes when the championship is over and the air is out. But you can only survive against Lewis and win a championship if you regain your peak performance for an entire season. We have to discuss that with him now. The talent and intelligence he has. ”
Mercedes: change of driver already in 2021?
The Mercedes boss no longer completely rules out the possibility that Russell could replace Bottas next year: “We have a fixed driver plan for next year, but you never know: the black swan always happens nothing when you get it least expected. Sooner or later George will be in our car. ”
Bottas counters Wolff’s criticism
In other words: although the Finn Bottas has a contract with Mercedes in 2021, his whereabouts in the team no longer seem secure. Bottas, who finished eighth just one place ahead of Russell, reacts bitterly, countering criticism from his boss in his post-race media round: “If you don’t know all the details, then maybe I look like the idiot. This way It was a very bad race for me and you can easily say that a new man will join the team and beat the one who has been in the team for years. It is not ideal. But there are people who know it, “he said. Fin.
Alone, the controversy shows: there is a crack in the frame of the Silver Arrows. Superstar Lewis Hamilton’s contract extension is said to be just around the corner. And if he will attack his eighth world title alongside Bottas in 2021, he is suddenly in the stars. Bottas shouldn’t be so sure anymore. Also because Wolff personally plays a role in managing both. Contracts are not worth that much anymore.
