“Little Lion” Russell is waiting for a Mercedes promotion

“Take care of the things you love,” the 23-year-old announced on social networks. It was an ambiguous motto, after all, the Williams driver could finally be promoted next season and become the new teammate of record world champion Lewis Hamilton.

“I signed with Mercedes five or six years ago,” said the Englishman, who was highly suspicious of a move, about his role as a Silver Arrows junior. “Everyone knows that they care about me. But as far as my cockpit for next year is concerned, nothing has been signed or sealed.” There will be no news at his home race in Silverstone. Too good for Williams Russell has long since outgrown the traditional Williams team that follows behind. After testing for Force India and the Silver Arrows, he moved into his Formula 2019 regular cockpit in 1. In his first season he beat his stable rival Robert Kubica in every qualification, and last season he did the same to Nicholas Latifi. And this year he's just continuing.

Russell was not lacking in self-confidence and persistence even before he started Formula 1. He wanted the Williams cockpit as early as 2018. “He came to me with a Powerpoint presentation in which he wanted to show why he would be our best driver. “I’ve never received anything like that,” said Williams’ technical director at the time, Paddy Lowe, recalling the unusual meeting. “I thought, instead of sitting down and telling someone how good I am, it would be better to put it on paper and list the stats to back it up,” Russell explained.

George Russell could drive for Mercedes next year. © APA/afp / ADRIAN DENNIS

With his crazy eighth place in qualifying at Silverstone, he was now campaigning for a promotion on his own behalf. “That was the best qualifying we’ve ever had,” Russell said on Friday. “I got into a groove, it just flowed.”

There was high praise from his future boss. “It's a feast for the eyes to watch him,” said Mercedes team boss Toto Wolff. “He is a little lion in the car.” The big lion with seven world titles, 98 race wins and 100 pole positions would have to be Hamilton. Since 2017 he has been driving at Mercedes alongside Valtteri Bottas, who replaced the retiring world champion Nico Rosberg. As the Finn's performances have become more inconsistent, speculation surrounding his departure at the end of the year has become more prevalent. “I expect some questions in Spa,” said Wolff when clarifying the Mercedes personnel after the summer break at the end of August. Russel for Bottas? Bottas could even change teams with Russell in 2022, as he drove for Williams himself for four years. Russell, on the other hand, was even allowed to drive a Mercedes in a Grand Prix. In Bahrain, at the beginning of December, he stood in for Hamilton, who was infected with the coronavirus. With a brilliant performance, he even led the race for a long time. Then the Mercedes crew made a mistake during a pit stop, and Russell was ultimately slowed down by a puncture. At least he still scored points in ninth place.

“I think that in the future he will have the opportunity to stand on podiums and fight for race wins if he goes to Mercedes,” said two-time Formula 1 world champion Fernando Alonso after a thrilling duel with Russell in Austria and praised him its error resistance. “So there will be different times for him.”

Football

Italy

International leagues

International

Winter sports

Tennis

Other sports

Motorsport

Cycling

Watersports

Events

Favorites

“Little Lion” Russell is waiting for a Mercedes promotion

Wearing flip-flops and shorts, George Russell grabbed a foam nozzle. On a sunny day before the British Grand Prix, the Formula 1 talent dedicated himself to taking care of his pristine white Mercedes.

Suggestions

Comments (0)