proteus wrote: ↑24 Apr 2022, 16:43
Russell driving like an absolute animal. Race after race getting better and better.
PlatinumZealot wrote: ↑24 Apr 2022, 16:51
Russell is all positive and hungrier!
Indeed, Russell is indeed an ace as many expected (myself included) and should have been promoted to Mercedes in 2020 or 2021. It was a
total misstep to not arrange such a deal (Williams contract buyout and replace out-of-contract Bottas) and get the best possible drivers ASAP IMO.
JordanMugen wrote: ↑09 Feb 2021, 17:26
Bottas has struggled to amass the number of wins in his career, that Button or Rosberg amassed in
one season. Why Mercedes persist with Bottas
remains a mystery when the likes of Ricciardo, Alonso were available for 2019 and now Russell too...
You always have to get the best
two drivers you can find. Always.
PlatinumZealot wrote: ↑10 Feb 2021, 20:33
Solid rear gunner for Lewis.
I see no reason to change [Bottas] than to bring more exitement to the team if that is what Toto wants and I doubt it.
Russell absolutely should have had the opportunity to drive the Mercedes and go for the 2021 & 2021 WDCs.
As PlatinumZealot said Russell is a positive and hungry driver, who therefore would mostly likely have put together an
excellent WDC challenge.
Leclerc and Gasly got the promotions ASAP, it is ridiculous that Russell did not. Was it ever truly likely that Russell would be as disastrous as Gasly at Red Bull? Not really, no IMO. Baffling, and probably has cost Russell so many potential wins during the 2020 & 2021 seasons as well as costing Mercedes themselves many WCC points.
Tvetovnato wrote: ↑24 Apr 2022, 19:03
Had Hamilton been severely beaten in pure pace, it would be one thing. But so far that’s nowhere near the case.
Exactly, they are quite even. The argument against promoting Russell early was that Russell would be way off the pace like Gasly compared to Verstappen, which just seems totally unfounded IMO. It is clear that Russell should have been promoted earlier and that Russell is most likely an improvement compared to Bottas - every race team should
always strive to hire the two fastest drivers available!