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View point: Mercedes shoot themselves in the foot if they ignore Russell

View point: Mercedes shoot themselves in the foot if they ignore Russell

29-08-2021 07:59 Last update: 10:37
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GPblog.com

One of the biggest questions plaguing the premier class of motor racing since the start of the summer break has been the possible promotion of super talented George Russell to flagship Mercedes. During today's qualifying session, Russell upped the pressure on the Woking-based team even further by outperforming not only Bottas but also Hamilton on the wet, rainy track of Spa-Francorchamps, proving decisively that Mercedes now really can't ignore him, and shouldn't want to.

With his masterstroke in the rain George Russell has ensured that for the first time in ages a Williams car will start from the front row of the grid at a Grand Prix. Not because the car is so fast, but because in the rain the individual talents of the driver come to the fore, George Russell is simply that good.

Nevertheless, it is still uncertain whether the young driver can call himself a member of a top team from 2022. Toto Wolff and his team have yet to make a decision, but the fact that further collaboration with Valtteri Bottas is still on the table after this session at Spa is a shame, especially now the team is in a fierce title race for the first time in years and needs all the points it can get.

Not yet birthday

Although it is always a risk to have a brand new driver perform under the enormous pressure of a top team, Mercedes doesn't have that much to lose at this point, and if Russell can set the second-best time in a Williams he should be able to do the same with ease in a Mercedes. After all, he showed this already last year in Bahrain, when he replaced Hamilton.

Although Bottas celebrated his birthday today at Spa, if Mercedes want to take the fight for the title seriously they will have to pass the Finn to give George Russell the chance he deserves.