[ 2020 ] AMG Mercedes F1 Team - Mercedes

[Macklaren]

Multiple media sources saying that Russell is the top candidate for the seat but Williams have not released him yet. Decision to be made tomorrow morning.

[Manoah2u]

It'll be a win-win to be honest. Merc might even pay Williams a sum. Nissany might pay a sum. Russell gets a great chance for two races as it's unlikely Hamilton's quarantine period is over before the final GP - claims Ted and co.

Two races for Russell to score points and prove his worth.
Two races for Nissany to show his worth.

Williams gets money in both situations.

Only 1 race has been confirmed so far, not sure if it is the 10 day or 14 day protocol where they are. If its 10 days he can race if its 14 days then he will rest up having finished the season with a win and sign the a new deal for X years.

*Correction it is 10 days

Sky has already mentioned that it's pretty much guaranteed Hamilton is not going to make the GP finale either, which makes it likely it's going to be for a total of two GP's. Offcourse they have had many hits and misses but they seemed pretty adamant about it.

As for Russell 'not being released yet', that'll be a done deal pretty fast. Probably a game of Mercedes wanting to use their 'lent out' driver, and Williams management wanting some cake for it, and likewise with Nissany. In other words, Mercedes hasn't 'transferred' or 'written the cheque' or the 'cake' they want, and Nissany has not yet signed to pay a bunch of dough for that 'sweet' seat. Or, perhaps better said, not all the 'legal little words' have been ironed out.

[adrianjordan]

He has symptoms, so the 10 days depends if he is symptoms free by that point. A lot of fit and healthy people are having more than 10 days of symptoms, so that will be part of it.

[nzjrs]

He has symptoms, so the 10 days depends if he is symptoms free by that point. A lot of fit and healthy people are having more than 10 days of symptoms, so that will be part of it.

Given infinite free testing, symptoms should be irrelevant? No?

[matt_b]

It'll be a win-win to be honest. Merc might even pay Williams a sum. Nissany might pay a sum. Russell gets a great chance for two races as it's unlikely Hamilton's quarantine period is over before the final GP - claims Ted and co.

Two races for Russell to score points and prove his worth.
Two races for Nissany to show his worth.

Williams gets money in both situations.

Only 1 race has been confirmed so far, not sure if it is the 10 day or 14 day protocol where they are. If its 10 days he can race if its 14 days then he will rest up having finished the season with a win and sign the a new deal for X years.

*Correction it is 10 days

Sky has already mentioned that it's pretty much guaranteed Hamilton is not going to make the GP finale either, which makes it likely it's going to be for a total of two GP's. Offcourse they have had many hits and misses but they seemed pretty adamant about it.

As for Russell 'not being released yet', that'll be a done deal pretty fast. Probably a game of Mercedes wanting to use their 'lent out' driver, and Williams management wanting some cake for it, and likewise with Nissany. In other words, Mercedes hasn't 'transferred' or 'written the cheque' or the 'cake' they want, and Nissany has not yet signed to pay a bunch of dough for that 'sweet' seat. Or, perhaps better said, not all the 'legal little words' have been ironed out.

Sky dont make that decision they are just speculating, it comes to whether Lewis tests negative after 10 days of isolation and whether he feels fit to return. We just have to wait and see.

[adrianjordan]

He has symptoms, so the 10 days depends if he is symptoms free by that point. A lot of fit and healthy people are having more than 10 days of symptoms, so that will be part of it.

Given infinite free testing, symptoms should be irrelevant? No?

What I meant was, he hasn't just tested positive without having any symptoms, he has symptoms so has at least a mild infection. So he will have to wait for the disease to run its course before he will test negative.

[Polarit]

They have to put the resources into Russell taking those drives. He's a proper talent that's in a dog of a car.

If they get it through the pressure on Bottas is immense..... it makes the last two races extremely interesting.

[godlameroso]

If anything they're essentially throwing Bottas a bone, help him win P2 in the championship. If Bottas doesn't find another gear Verstappen is very likely to overtake him, Hamilton out of the picture makes it easier for him to get those P1 points, as he doesn't have to beat Hamilton to do it, just Verstappen.

Because of this, I don't see them poaching Russell for 2 races.

[Nickel]

Curveball: Hamilton watched Grosjean almost die and decided to call it a day. Covid provides cover to test a fresh face against Bottas.


*removes tinfoil hat*

[zibby43]

If anything they're essentially throwing Bottas a bone, help him win P2 in the championship. If Bottas doesn't find another gear Verstappen is very likely to overtake him, Hamilton out of the picture makes it easier for him to get those P1 points, as he doesn't have to beat Hamilton to do it, just Verstappen.

Because of this, I don't see them poaching Russell for 2 races.

Are you saying Mercedes is faking Lewis' COVID result to help get Bottas an utterly meaningless P2 in the championship?

Or did I pick the wrong day to quit sniffing glue?

[godlameroso]

Ain't much else there to play for, not saying they did it intentionally, just outlining how the situation is likely to pan out. Can't change the fact Hamilton is going to miss the next two races, he's already got the title clinched all that's left to play for is first of the losers. Hamilton may very well have covid, and as luck would have it, happened exactly when it's mathematically impossible for him to lose WDC and Mercedes is mathematically incapable of losing WCC. Coincidence or not, that is the situation at hand.

And if the virus is good enough reason to shut down the global economy it's a good enough excuse to miss two races.

[zibby43]

Ain't much else there to play for, not saying they did it intentionally, just outlining how the situation is likely to pan out. Can't change the fact Hamilton is going to miss the next two races, he's already got the title clinched all that's left to play for is first of the losers. Hamilton may very well have covid, and as luck would have it, happened exactly when it's mathematically impossible for him to lose WDC and Mercedes is mathematically incapable of losing WCC. Coincidence or not, that is the situation at hand.

And if the virus is good enough reason to shut down the global economy it's a good enough excuse to miss two races.

Lewis had a contact he interacted with before the Bahrain GP test positive, so that’d be a deep conspiracy. Not to mention the fact that faking a positive would be so incredibly distasteful considering the virus has killed over 1 million people.

Let’s just put that to rest now.

Setting aside the human decency angle, intentionally sitting Lewis down means Lewis loses out on the chance for most race wins in a season, 100 poles, consecutive race starts, highest win % in a season, etc. He’s a competitor, and wouldn’t abide by that for 1 second.

And re: 2 races gone - certainly possible, but his 10th quarantine day will be next Thursday, and if he tests negative, he’d be cleared for Abu Dhabi.

[Sevach]

Posted just now... i think Russel will get the nod.

Edit:Russell for Mercedes, Aitken in at Williams

[e30ernest]

OMG.... The game is on Bottas!

[bauc]

OMG.... The game is on Bottas!

If Russel beats him this weekend, this will be the end of ''I'm Bottas, I know what I should do to beat Lewis''