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Mercedes team boss Lewis Hamilton talks about the crown-wearing Lewis Hamilton, George Russell’s first training session in black and the difficulties for Valtteri Bottas.
New driver at Mercedes-Benz, but the old image: a black racer in front, but not the GP winner Valtteri Bottas, but the replacement of Lewis Hamilton, the young George Russell. Hamilton, a seven-time world champion, is currently in isolation after a positive corona test, hoping to return to the World Cup final.
Mercedes team boss Toto Wolff to British Sky teammates: “Lewis Hamilton is not doing well. Corona should not be taken lightly. He’s in the best of hands, that’s important, but these are the early days, things aren’t so great right now. Fortunately, the symptoms are still mild, but you can imagine how it feels to not be able to sit here in the race car. Seated and Corona – everyone can imagine how they feel. “
Let’s talk about George Russell. Toto continues: “I wasn’t even the first to tell him that he would drive for us. He wanted to leave that to the Williams boys to release. Then I called him, from Saudi Arabia, and it rang in the background, so I asked him: are you in the bathroom?
“He did not react enthusiastically, rather pragmatically. Today, in the first training session, he handled the situation very well. There is no emotion. He knows that he is taking over a great racing car and replacing the great champion. So you want to do a good job. He wants to improve the level and the level, he had to learn the new slope management. “
“Our drivers were driving on the same schedule, but the front underbody of Valtteri’s car broke. The left front wheel leaned when it locked, and by the end it was no longer on the track. So we certainly didn’t see Bottas with the best chances. But that in no way should detract from George’s excellent performance. Being in the car for the first time, he did very well. “
On the decision of Stoffel Vandoorne or George Russell, Toto Wolff says: “This decision was not easy for us. Stoffel is part of the Mercedes family and does a great job in Formula E. He is our reserve driver and sits in the simulator. It’s not easy having to tell that driver that he won’t be designated. But we did it with a look to the future, we wanted to see how George drives under pressure and in a different environment. It’s a great exercise for him. “
1. Formation, Sakhir
1. George Russell (GB), Mercedes, 54.546 seconds
2. Max Verstappen (NL), Red Bull Racing, +0.176 seconds
3. Alex Albon (T), Red Bull Racing, +0 265
4. Valtteri Bottas (FIN), Mercedes, +0 322
5. Daniil Kvyat (RUS), AlphaTauri, +0 465
6. Pierre Gasly (F), AlphaTauri, +0.620
7. Esteban Ocon (F), Renault, +0,727
8. Sebastian Vettel (D), Ferrari, +0.735
9. Daniel Ricciardo (AUS), Renault, +0.833
10. Charles Leclerc (MC), Ferrari, +0.903
11. Lance Stroll (CDN), Racing Point, +1,012
12. Sergio Pérez (MEX), Racing Point, +1,170
13. Carlos Sainz (E), McLaren, +1,211
14. Kimi Räikkönen (FIN), Alfa Romeo, +1 237
15. Antonio Giovinazzi (I), Alfa Romeo, +1,312
16. Lando Norris (GB), McLaren, +1,532
17. Kevin Magnussen (DK), Haas, +1,584
18. Nicholas Latifi (CDN), Williams, +2,218
19. Pietro Fittipaldi (BR), Haas, +2 531
20. Jack Aitken (GB), Williams, +2,641
