Not just that, but a Bottas / Russell team against a Max / Perez in the 2021 car is likely to be too close for comfort for Toto. The 2021 cars are much closer to the 2020 cars than the 2020 cars were to 2019, for example, so one would expect 2021 to be a closer fight between Merc and RBR.Big Tea wrote: ↑29 Jan 2021, 13:44Remember though, Toto and Merc have to factor in events if Hamilton was driving a different car. It is not how they would do V Ferrari or Red Bull it is how they would do with Hamilton in one of those teams and not in the Merc.
And before anyone asks, Yes, I do think it could make that much difference to the end of season positions.
I think Merc want Hamilton for 2021 and 2022 with Bottas in 2021, Russell in 2022. Then they have the next young gun settled in the team and can sort out the replacement for the other car for 2023. That's how you do succession planning to replace a top dog. The top dog helps the team in the first season of the new car rules before handing over the reigns to the young gun.