Mercedes ‘wrong to axe Valtteri Bottas for George Russell’ as Hamilton suffering
Mercedes have been told they made a mistake by replacing Valtteri Bottas with George Russell in 2022. Bottas was axed to make way for the highly-rated Russell, but there has been scrutiny over the decision after two disappointing seasons for the Silver Arrows.
Bottas was Hamilton’s partner for the Formula One icon’s four consecutive World Championship victories between 2017 and 2020. The Fin was often praised for getting the best out of the Mercedes star.
However, Hamilton has shared a different relationship with Russell since the 25-year-old’s arrival at the start of the 2022 campaign. Instead of Russell supporting Hamilton to victories – like Bottas did – both drivers have often battled each other.
Former Williams chief Peter Windsor believes Russell’s presence does not bring the best form out of Hamilton, subsequently knocking the 38-year-old’s confidence. Mercedes’ only victory since Russell’s arrival came when the younger Briton won the Brazilian Grand Prix last year.
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“When you watch Bottas in that black Alfa, it looks a little bit like Bottas in the black Mercedes days and you still think: ‘Hmm, did Mercedes do the right thing in firing him and replacing him with George Russell?’,” Windsor said on his YouTube channel.
“Not because George isn’t quick – George is a quicker driver than Valtteri, absolutely no doubt about that – but in terms of getting the best from Lewis, would we have a different Lewis if Valtteri was in the other car? That’s an unanswered question, of course.
“My opinion is yes and I think the minute George starts to go quicker than Lewis, you can see it eating into Lewis’s self-confidence and doubt.
“You can hear him on the radio saying: ‘What is the margin?’ And when they say where George is, you can [hear] a breath of: ‘Oof.’
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“I thought Lewis’s comment at the end [of Q2] – ‘I just couldn’t go any quicker’ – was very telling.
“Maybe that’s to do with the temperature he had in the tyres and the amount of grip level he had, but I think it was also: ‘I gave it everything and I can’t drive like George Russell on a circuit like this.’”
Hamilton and Russell have signed two-year contract extensions with Mercedes, tying the duo up until the end of the 2024 season. Hamilton has denied reports linking him with moves to either Ferrari or Red Bull.
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