F1 News
Brundle: 'This was a big tactical decision by Toto Wolff'
- GPblog.com
As a replacement for Lewis Hamilton, Toto Wolff did not choose Stoffel Vandoorne, who is an official test rider for the race team. Instead, George Russell was given a chance in the fast-paced car and everyone agrees that it was a tactical action by the Mercedes team boss. However, this also creates headaches and Russell is the one who benefits in any case.
Tactical decision
The reason why Wolff chose Russell will never be thrown by the team boss at contract talks, but the analysts agree that this has a role to play. Of course, by these talks is meant Hamilton's failure to sign a new contract, which would make high demands on his salary.
Martin Brundle is also making his case and writes in his column for Sky Sports: "I have no doubt that by using Russell instead of the official test driver Stoffel Vandoorne, who was inbound anyway, was a big tactical decision by Toto Wolff.
"With Hamilton playing hard to get regarding a signature on a new contract, and doubts whether Valtteri Bottas was really stepping up to the plate lately despite his miserable luck, George would answer a few questions one way or the other", which he has clearly done.
"And so it proved to be as he assuredly led the race after a perfect start, and without being entirely comfortable inside the car or fully up to speed with all of its systems, Russell dramatically raised his own value and opportunities, capped Hamilton's, and dented Bottas's."
What Mercedes and Toto Wolff in particular are now going to do is wait and see. It is now clear that Hamilton would like to be back in the car next year and Bottas already has a contract. Russell, however, is an excellent alternative choice and everyone knows that the young Briton is considerably cheaper than the Finn and certainly the seven-time world champion.