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Silly Season: Gasly waves goodbye to Red Bull, Russell plays down Mercedes talk

Silly Season: Gasly waves goodbye to Red Bull, Russell plays down Mercedes talk

12-08-2019 17:00
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Bobby Vincent

We've had an extremely busy day, with the first driver departure of the season confirmed! Pierre Gasly goes back to Toro Rosso after failing to impress the bosses of Red Bull, with Alex Albon going the other way...

This is the silliest season, it's a scientific fact. Gasly being axed by Red Bull after just 12 races in the seat - does that seem silly? Silly or not, one man who will not care one bit is Albon.

He has had a very bright start to his life in Formula 1 and this is his reward for the beginning of his F1 career. Daniil Kvyat, Albon's old team-mate, may feel rather harshly done by in all of this - with the Russian driver, of course former Red Bull driver, having almost double of Albon's points total this season, including that podium finish in a wet Germany.

Anyway, Gasly will be saying his goodbyes to the Red Bull staff as he prepares to go again at Toro Rosso after having a 12-race break with the sister side of Red Bull Racing.

The situation at Mercedes: Valtteri Bottas is under immense pressure after consistently being in the shadow of his team-mate Lewis Hamilton. Esteban Ocon drove for Force India (now Racing Point) last season and impressed, but failed to get a Formula 1 seat for this season.

Ocon has been the man tipped to replace Bottas if the Silver Arrows do not renew the Finn's contract. Toto Wolff said a decision would be made in August but also said it might not be announced in August.

George Russell is on Mercedes books and has been for quite a while now, he's also been linked with Bottas' seat, but the current Formula 2 champion has essentially ruled himself out of contention saying a call-up is "very, very unlikely".

Russell has been impressive for Williams this season in his maiden Formula 1 season, being a bit of a bright spark in another dismal season for the bottom-place team.