"Red Bull doesn't want Russell, they already have Verstappen"
- GPblog.com
Former McLaren chief Marc Priestley sees no benefit in a collaboration between George Russell and Red Bull Racing. According to the Brit, Red Bull won't benefit at all as long as they have Max Verstappen in their ranks.
Bottas and Albon must fear for their seat
George Russell replaced Lewis Hamilton during the Sakhir GP. The young Briton looked much stronger this weekend than his temporary Mercedes teammate Valtteri Bottas, raising the question of whether Bottas should not be exchanged for Russell by Wolff and his teammates.
If that didn't happen, Russell could fill in another top spot. Alexander Albon's seat at Red Bull Racing is also at risk. However, Priestley thinks that Russell has little claim to that seat.
Rather Perez than Russell
"Can you imagine what Perez can do in that Red Bull?" Priestley asks himself out loud in his YouTube livestream. "He won't allow himself to be influenced by the pressure that the youngsters at Red Bull do feel. Verstappen and Perez in a team would be great."
These youngsters, Pierre Gasly and Alexander Albon, don't thrive in a team like Red Bull alongside Max Verstappen. That's why Priestley chose Perez and not Russell as a possible replacement for Albon.
"Red Bull doesn't want Russell. They already have Verstappen. He's already the star of the team and they need some kind of Bottas to drive the other car. Someone who can drive right behind Max. In addition, I don't see any scenario in which Mercedes would let Russell go."