I disagree. They are all there based on performance, now with reduced budgets and head count more than ever. There will always be loyality to someone who has brought that level of success but they'll be behind Russell as soon as he's faster.
F1 2022 Season
- Thread starter pauldyson1uk
- Start date
I agree with you on all the points you make, i should have said Lewis wont like it.
Bahrain GP FP3 Time sheet
Bahrain GP Practice Three Timesheet
| Driver | Team | Time |
|---|---|---|
| 1) Max Verstappen | Red Bull | 1:32.544 |
| 2) Charles Leclerc | Ferrari | +0.096 |
| 3) Sergio Perez | Red Bull | +0.247 |
| 4) George Russell | Mercedes | +0.391 |
| 5) Carlos Sainz | Ferrari | +0.509 |
| 6) Lewis Hamilton | Mercedes | +0.577 |
| 7) Kevin Magnussen | Haas | +0.893 |
| 8) Valtteri Bottas | Alfa Romeo | +1.189 |
| 9) Zhou Guanyu | Alfa Romeo | +1.336 |
| 10) Lance Stroll | Aston Martin | +1.376 |
| 11) Lando Norris | McLaren | +1.411 |
| 12) Nico Hulkenburg | Aston Martin | +1.427 |
| 13) Pierre Gasly | AlphaTauri | +1.632 |
| 14) Mick Schumacher | Haas | +1.751 |
| 15) Daniel Ricciardo | McLaren | +1.834 |
| 16) Fernando Alonso | Alpine | +2.084 |
| 17) Alex Albon | Williams | +2.324 |
| 18) Esteban Ocon | Alpine | +2.413 |
| 19) Nicholas Latifi | Williams | +3.123 |
| 20) Yuki Tsunoda | AlphaTauri | No time |
Martin Brundles words below:
Russell a match for Hamilton in Merc's 'best driver pairing'?
The major driver line-up change for this year comes at Mercedes, where young British star George Russell has finally earned his chance alongside his hero and idol Hamilton.
"George can challenge Lewis this season," Brundle insists. "Watching the decision and patience you need to drive the cars - that's going to be a key factor - George has got all the feel and touch and maturity he needs to make these cars sing.
"In my mind, Mercedes have the strongest driver pairing. George knows the team, he's going home effectively, he knows what he's stepping into. He will find Lewis' relentless season-long, race-by-race, day-by-day, hour-by-hour commitment potentially soul-destroying, but I think he's confident and talented enough to live with it.
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Its the mental aspect that is the biggest unknown, Rosberg ran away from F1 as he couldnt handle being Lewis's teammate anymore. Bottas was worn down. How will Russell handle it?
On the track over the course of the season will he score more points and win the internal team qually battle with hamilton? I doubt it at present. But it remains to be seen how good russell really is. We'll know more by half way through the season.
My thoughts for the season. Max is clear favorite for WDC. But, it's up to him and RBR to maximize their points in the first 3-5 races before we see the Merc start fighting back. Any crashes or failures in those first races and I think Hamilton comes back and takes the WDC. Ferrari will do their thing and be 3rd.
He has it bang on here, can Russell cope ?
Russell will learn what it takes and the level of commitment required to be a champion. And one of the best ever if not the very best. That will be his biggest takeaway and will help h in the long run.
Naomi is a nice addition to the Sky team and seems to know her stuff.
Exactly. How do they know that he made those incorrect decisions in good faith. And anyway, what does that even mean.
But the bottom line is that he was completely wrong in how he mishandled and mismanaged the last part of the race.
And let there be no doubt. The outcome of that race and the WC was wrong. And always will be whatever the record says. It was wrong.
Course he can. Hamilton only has one, maybe two years max. Russell knows that time is in his favour and he's sat out in a Williams for three years. Running at the front end of the races for a season will be good enough for him this year, and when Hamilton departs he'll no doubt assume role as the number one driver.
Delish
I think he can also, proved he can handle the car in a difficult testing and FP , maybe better than Lewis.
Race 1 Bahrain GP Qualifying
So here we are, first qualifying, with all new cars, some new drivers.
Hard to see past Max for Pole.
P1 Max
P2 Leclerc
P3 Perez
Hard to see past Max for Pole.
P1 Max
P2 Leclerc
P3 Perez
Hopefully we get Ferrari back in the mix.
Enjoy guys
Enjoy guys
Let's hope the floor doesn't bottom out and land up having debris or fibre glass everywhere... And red flags
Max lays down a fast first lap in Q1
Wow Haas
This Ferrari engine looks decent.
Looks like he is barely trying
Ferrari 
WTF HAAS splits the 2 Red Bulls !!1
Mercs a midfield team?
I think Bottas outqualying both Mercedes suddenly might be possible 
Looking like a rockstar!
AmazingI think Bottas outqualying both Mercedes suddenly might be possible
. Ferrari has made a rocket engine it seems.That would be glorious.I think Bottas outqualying both Mercedes suddenly might be possible
I haven't watched any of the FP, did the Mercs look similar there? Or is there an improvement of the bouncing?
Why the feck are the showing the driver numbers. Show the team colours ffs. Ludicrous choice.
That Botas car looks fantastic.
There was an improvement but they're still 3rd best.
Wow. The Alfa and the Haas huge pleasant surprises.
At this rate, third best is optimistic.
Mclaren and Aston aren't looking too good either.
Yeah, having the 2nd Haas car at 11 shows it's not a fluke either. That's amazing.
Bottas 4/10th faster then Lewis !!
Poor Dannyric
Russell and Botas ahead of Hamilton. My dream is alive.
The bouncing of that Merc is ridiculous.
The bouncing looks worse on the compression before the last corner than on the straight. Merc worst but looks like loads are having trouble with it. Nice to see fast Ferraris!
Some odd dreams you have!Russell and Botas ahead of Hamilton. My dream is alive.