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As Lewis Hamilton cruised to the 11th Formula 1 victory of a title-winning 2020 season at Sunday’s Bahrain GP, George Russell was twelfth. He equaled the second best result of his two-year F1 career so far, in which, despite his admirable efforts, he has yet to score a point in a Williams car that has often been the slowest on the grid. .
Less than 72 hours later, Russell was officially confirmed as the man who will replace the seven-time F1 world champion at Sakhir’s next race this weekend, in a car that has not only been hailed as the fastest this season, but faster in the history of sport.
A “devastated” Hamilton loss, with F1’s dominant force sidelined after a positive Covid-19 test, is Russell’s gain, and it offers the young Englishman, just 22 years old, a great opportunity, albeit with so short notice.
A chance to show how fast he is after two years down the grid. An opportunity to score his first podium, and much less points. An opportunity to show Mercedes that she can be her star of the future.
The championship may be over and the Mercedes drivers are playing for little more than pride at the Sakhir GP. But it could well define Russell’s career, since The Sky F1 team of experts explained ahead of the weekend.
“He’s been racing for two years, George, with nothing really to show for it,” said Ted Kravitz. “Now he’s in the best car and let’s see what he can do. It’s very exciting for Mercedes and British motorsport.”
Anthony Davidson, a Mercedes simulation driver, added: “This is the car that everyone dreams of being in: the Mercedes, the car in which Lewis rules the world.
“It’s not good enough to be fast and show your lap times, you must also have a little luck and timing on your side. This is George’s chance.”
Why Mercedes opted for Russell
When Mercedes confirmed Hamilton’s positive coronavirus test Tuesday morning, there were immediately big favorites for the trip. Stoffel Vandoorne, the team’s official substitute who has been to several Grands Prix this year in the event of a positive test for a Mercedes driver, was understandably a favorite, while Nico Hulkenberg, who has impressed by entering the latest notice three times at Racing Point this year – it was also discussed.
But in the end, Mercedes chose Russell, the driver they have nurtured, from a Formula 2 championship to joining the F1 grid with Williams in 2019, and the driver who has done little wrong and much good since then.
“This is really Mercedes bringing some positive news of the body shot that was their lead driver and world champion Lewis Hamilton had contracted Covid-19,” Kravitz explained.
“It wasn’t a great story for them, but they really turned the negative into something very positive, giving their development driver, a young driver, George Russell, the opportunity to make his Grand Prix debut in a top-tier team like Mercedes.” . . “
1:02 Fernando Alonso believes that George Russell has been the outstanding driver of all the young talents of F1
While Russell has yet to score a point in F1, that’s because of the car at his disposal rather than his talent. His only real chances this year came at Mugello, when he fought fiercely with Sebastian Vettel and finished 11th, and at Imola, when he was racing in points before crashing under the Safety Car. That’s the only notable mistake Russell has made in the F1.
But Russell is still widely recognized as one of the stars of F1’s future, if not the star, and both Hamilton and Fernando Alonso expressed that particular view. In the absence of results on race day, perhaps it is due to the performances Russell has managed to produce on Saturdays.
Incredibly, Russell has never been beaten by an F1 teammate, in 36 attempts. He also made Q2 at Williams nine times this year, eight more than Nicholas Latifi.
“George has done an excellent job in qualifying, he has absolutely excelled,” said Sky F1’s Paul Di Resta. “What we haven’t seen is how he copes with the leadership and the pressure at Mercedes. But he’s definitely in the best car.
“I think he will be very professional. He is a good age, he has a lot of people who support him, especially at the top. He is in a great position to make a good impression.”
What is expected of Russell at Sakhir GP?
Mercedes has achieved all but one pole position in F1 2020, with the exception of a wet Turkish GP, and won all but two races, with Max Verstappen and Pierre Gasly victories more due to circumstances than outright speed.
But, as Di Resta said of Russell, who has never driven the W11 and did the last test for Mercedes a year ago: “The expectation of getting into a seven-time world champion car … is a very decent question.
“He won’t have a test first, what he’s doing is going straight to where Lewis left off.”
But that does not mean that the pressure will go away, far from it. Particularly since he’s been driving and impressing in F1 for two years now, and he’s very highly qualified.
2:25 Sky F1’s Ted Kravitz says Mick Schumacher is ‘echoing’ his father’s journey by starting his Formula 1 career with one of the sport’s smallest teams when he joins Haas
“There is a clear difference between Pietro Fittipaldi replacing Romain Grosjean or Jack Aitken at Williams this weekend,” Davidson said. “There is little expectation from those guys, while George, despite being in a bad car at the back of the grid, comes with the expectation of having to deliver because he already has in a Williams.
“Now he is expected to deliver in a Mercedes.”
So what would represent a good result for Russell this weekend?
“It’s going to be very difficult for George, but he is an expert on a Saturday so I think the top four in qualifying would be a very good result for him. He should be close enough to the Red Bulls,” Kravitz said. “Again in the race, the top four would be very good, although perhaps you would expect a podium in the car he’s driving.”
Di Resta added: “Honestly, when you look at him and you see what Hulkenberg did when he was on his feet this year, you’d expect him to line up in the front row. He could easily qualify in P1.”
Is the pressure on Russell or on Bottas?
Russell has been eager to drive a Mercedes since joining the F1 grid with Williams, but has been overlooked for a race seat in favor of Valtteri Bottas, who will begin his fifth season with the team next year.
They will both be temporary teammates this weekend.
While Bottas has been no match for Hamilton this year, with just two wins to the champion’s 11, he is expected to quite comfortably beat Russell at the Sakhir GP given his experience and speed in the car.
“The Bottas reference sticks to George, so it will be fascinating to see how George performs against that known amount in Bottas,” Davidson said.
Di Resta, suggesting that this weekend could be crucial for the long-term future of Mercedes for both drivers, continued: “This is where Valtteri has to make his mark, because this is the fight.
“Who is going to be number 2 in Mercedes?”
All the action from Sakhir GP is live only on Sky Sports F1 this weekend. Qualifying begins at 5:00 p.m. M. From Saturday, from 4:00 p.m. M., While the race begins at 5:30 p.m. M. Sunday, and the race starts at 3:30 p.m. M.
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