Although George Russell did not win the Sakhir Grand Prix, he left a huge impression. It was an achievement that may have major consequences for the future. Robert Doornbos sums up the possible consequences on Crashing in the Kitchen on Ziggo Sport.
"I think Bottas has now framed that contract for 2021. He now looks at it every time and thinks 'what a lucky guy I am that I've already got it'" said Doornbos, who assumes that Mercedes would like to get the young Brit in the car as soon as possible. However, it could also have consequences for Hamilton.
Mercedes wants to cut costs
"Hamilton and Toto Wolff go into a difficult negotiation. Toto did this on purpose, of course. Otherwise he would have taken the test driver. This is political. Hamilton asks for 50 million, Daimler's new CEO says he wants to cut costs in Formula 1. So that is already difficult."
Wolff has already said in the media that according to him this does not affect the contract negotiations, but Mercedes cannot deny the financial reality either. "Russell shows that he can also drive fast. I do not yet know if he can win seven titles, but he is doing it for 50 million less".
I'm sure Hamilton never allowed a fast driver to race next to him in a Benz, typical prima Donna style
doornbos clearly has a limited capacity for cognition. hamilton is worth whatever it is 30,40,50 million because he can negotiate that. that's a business decision not some employee interaction between a manager and a assembly line worker. hamilton has very carefully managed his image (his brand in today's parlance) such that he has niche worldwide. those are parts of the sum totals of what mercedes is negotiating for. he is a 5,6,7 x wdc now and that has cache that is earned not bought, and that has tremendous value and not just in the pits. this is why athletes like m.jordan, lebron j., tiger woods and now hamilton get ludicrous sums. because they are great and become a representative of something more. we can all whine about it not being fair or whatever but that is how it is. russell has a long way to go before any of this is real. it may be that he is one of the next generation of the very good and who knows maybe he will come out on top to be recognized as great but he's a long way off that yet.
Yes and no. Some athlet is really above all and team buy an extra value. LH has been built by Mercedes, starting from nearly "raw" material. Any driver of Nico Rosberg level could have won the same, or more, if Mercedes decided in 2014 the second drive is a wingman, instead a racer. LH is perfect testimonial, not because what he does on tracks (a number of other drivers could have done, easily) but because of the "modern image" (green, vegan, tattoed, black skin, etc etc) which create an icon and a great appeal, expecially for young "social addicted" masses. Sebastian Vettel, on a "W" Mercedes could have broken LH records way before, but he's not an icon, hates social and doesn't care his image out of tracks, to give that the majority of "public" likes. LH (or his manager) is a world champion, but off tracks, while on, it's enough a GR to show any talented driver can do the same or more, and how Bottas is wingman, chosen to cheat public.
No--without Hamilton, Merc would've lost 2017 and 2018 to Ferrari
Learn to read: "Sebastian Vettel, on a "W" Mercedes could have broken LH records way before".
You dream because of your cheerish attitude. Since 2014 Ferrari had NEVER been the best car, lacking a lot on chassis and lacking aero. Had only the same power of Mercedes, for a few races along 2019. Fact is that LH has been repeadtly beaten by Nico Rosberg, on the same car (stop).
Infact, anyone could have won on the RB "rocket" which brought 4 titles to Vettel. Two overrated drivers, a "simple" Nico Rosberg (or Webber) could have won the same, on same car.
responding to this Any driver of Nico Rosberg level could have won the same,
Hamster in a Spittle Red Ball would have won more races. Hell, that dipshite of a pilot won races in Spittle champion years with the fooking McCrack car. lol
Rubbish, Lewis still beat Vettel when Farrari was also one if the best cars on the grid to the championship be4 the car went down the pan , u forget so quickly about things
It is a financial reality. Mercedes do not spend the huge sums of money in this sport so fans can enjoy and be entertained. They are not spending it for us. They do so to market and sell. This is their ultimate goal. Your entertainment is just a consequence of this goal. They have been so far ahead of everyone else since 2014 that they can choose the champion they feel will maximize most, their ultimate goal. They do not toss coins and let fate decide their marketing front man. Their entire F1 objective is to make LH champion. Bottas' purpose is to make Hamilton Champion. They know LH will not be around forever and after covid everyone needs to tighten belts and the LH fee is a lot of money even if it is not the 50 million being asked for. Russell came in and has had a fairy tale appearance never got a point prior and nearly won, young fresh faced, no political baggage regardless of right or wrong politically. The only people hopping Russell to not perform very well and win were Bottas fans and some LH fans who hoped to use his not so great performance to further their "it's LH not the car" narrative. The world's eyes were and are on Russell with even non Mercedes fans watching. Where as LH is disliked by non Mercedes fans for his domination of the title, some of his political views and perhaps his race too. There is a niche for a Russell fairy tale here and if finances all seem to point that it will be more profitable to get him from the savings on the salary and capitalizing on the Cinderella nature of Russell to Mercedes story. If Daimler's board see all this great potential, it is not beyond wild reason they could consider this. They will just make LH say he decided to retire after covid and focus on what is important in life then proceed have him sell cars or to produce line of LH inspired and branded cars. Russell will begin the next phase of their marketing. They would want Russell winning straight away they would not risk him losing a title or two to Hamilton. They will want him to appear unbeatable and unblemished.
lol Same scenario with Ruben and Shoey. Almighty Alonso and YesMassa. Spittle couldn’t handle Lewd-Clerk, so it didn’t happen as planned. Gonna be the same for O-come-on when Almighty Alonso get started next year at Renaughty. No need to be Private Obvious! lol
To me it's funny, the kid never drove in that car before and doesn't even properly fit in it because it's designed around Lewis Hamilton. On top of that, this is the first time in basically 7 years where their team clearly performed worse then their best driver. Nevertheless, their driver was so good that he still drove the fastest F1 lap in the history of the sport!!! And that in his first race in it ever! Can you imagine what would happen if you put Verstappen, or Schumacher in that car for a few years?!!!
I agree with most you said but the fastest lap thing isn't how it sounds,it is the shortest lap circuit & hes in a Mercedes so he was only really competing with Bottas for fastest lap. And Bottas is mediocre
Russell CAN win 7 titles in that rocketship,hes CLEARLY a different ilk to Bottas who is a collosal underachiever & is far too nice & polite to grab the car by the scruff & drag it past Hamilton or anyone else really.
lol Why such a low number. Why not say 10? Shite make it 25 wdcs. If you gonna talk shite.. go big or go put back on your diapers. lol
We will see Danny if George has the ability to look after his tyres like Lewis , set his car up in the excellent way he does and makes correct calls when to go.into the pits , Lewis has loads more experience and makes the difference when it matters, George has a long way to go be4 he reaches Lewis's standard although I would like to see him in a Meecedes seat one day,, I hope Lewis stays for a long time yet, will miss him when he has gone, it wont be the same . Here is to the 8th Lewis
Still dont understand the concerns abt orher people's packages.. and feel the need to put in their two cents abt something private n how they arrived at that agreement.... Just how do you know all this... if 50 mil is a lot for you, that does not mean it is for Merc IF they want to! It's not ok to always assume the worst n think there're always ulterior motives!!
While that is true it is very reasonable to assume Merc doesn't NEED Hamilton if it means parting with 50 mil especially considering the new financial regulations. 50 mil is a insane amount of money to pay a driver whos responsible for maybe 1-2% of the cars pace compared to other inferior drivers(& we don't really know if hed get an extra 1-2% over other top drivers not named Valtieri.
Anyone of Nico Rosberg level, on a Mercedes "W", could win 7 titles, may be eight on a row. Until NR was in Mercedes he has been two times second, and one won, in final championsip ranking.
