Mercedes decided to look for a replacement for Valtteri Bottas in 2021. The German racing stable stumbled upon George Russell who turned in an excellent season at Williams. However, if it had been up to Jolyon Palmer, Mercedes would have gone for another driver.
It has been known for years that Mercedes has been impressed by Russell's qualities. It was therefore only a matter of time until the team would place him next to Lewis Hamilton in a Mercedes. Expectations are therefore high for next year, but according to Palmer, Lando Norris deserved the chance a lot more.
"The way that he held off Hamilton at the end of that Sochi race until the strategy and the tyre choice got away from him, was unbelievable," he revealed in the Chequered Flag-podcast. "For a guy that has never won a race, to have a seven-time World Champion breathing down his neck in a Mercedes, that's handsome."
Mercedes waits with Hamilton
Nevertheless, Mercedes chose to offer Russell a chance next season. For now, it remains to be seen whether he will appear at the start alongside Hamilton. Both the driver and the team are keeping in the middle whether the seven-time world champion will start the racing season. Clarity should emerge in the coming period.