Can George Russell join the fight for the title in 2022?

Facts : Champion of Formula 2 in 2018, George Russell, protégé of Mercedes, had then been placed by the star brand at Williams so that he can perfect his learning of F1. Three years later, the Briton left the English team with a feeling of accomplishment after having outrageously dominated all his teammates. It is time for him to join Mercedes in 2022, replacing Valtteri Bottas and alongside Lewis Hamilton. 

YES, by Jérémy Satis

Exceptional pilots distinguish themselves from their counterparts by their ability to adapt quickly. Give them the right equipment, and the performance will come instantly. As proof, Lewis Hamilton almost won the crown in his first campaign in F1 in 2007, before achieving it the following season. Charles Leclerc only needed two Grands Prix at Ferrari to take his SF-90 to pole position in Bahrain, before his engine prevented him from achieving this with a first victory the next day. Why, then, would George Russell need more time? Certainly, we do not yet have hindsight regarding Russell's level in a top car. So let's compare what is comparable. Like Hamilton and Leclerc, Russell was able to win Formula 2 in his first year in the category, which remains a benchmark in terms of precocity, talent and above all adaptability. Russell is no longer a rookie, he is a driver who took the time to train for three seasons at Williams, where he brilliantly took on the mantle of leader. At Mercedes, he will obviously not be the head of the team, but everything suggests that he will not be a simple lieutenant either. It is in the interest of Mercedes, which has nothing to gain by bullying its partner, who should be the spearhead of the post-Hamilton era. 

And then, George Russell has already proven that he can be competitive from the outset when he replaced Lewis Hamilton at short notice in the Mercedes in Bahrain at the end of 2020. Starting on the front row alongside Bottas, the Englishman had took control of the race from the start with authority, in a car yet too small for him. He showed obvious superiority over his Finnish teammate. But a blunder by the Mercedes mechanics, who carelessly put Bottas' tires on him, then a puncture while he was coming back up, finally got the better of his enthusiasm and his day of glory. The first victory would wait, but Russell won much more that day. He showed Mercedes that he could be a real candidate for a seat in the A team, he being the brand's Junior driver. His results at Williams, which saw him take the front row of qualifying at the Belgian Grand Prix, are another argument. Not to mention he was only beaten once by a teammate on a lap in three years at Williams. If Mercedes is not too affected by the new technical regulations, George Russell will be in the mix. Debunking Lewis Hamilton will not be easy, but it would be no surprise to see him come close and play spoilsport. 

George Russell has already started his work with Mercedes with a view to 2022. © Antonin Vincent / DPPI

NO, by Julien Billiotte

After three seasons spent chomping at the bit at the back of the grid, George Russell is finally moving into a more suitable seat with his lovely drive. Supported by a British press always quick to sing the praises of its compatriots, the young Briton arrives at Mercedes preceded by a very flattering reputation. Too much ? In three seasons, the native of King's Lynn (United Kingdom) will certainly have made ceviche of his teammates but between a diminished Robert Kubica and a Nicholas latifi limited, the opposition was not very virulent. You will rightly retort to me that Russell shone brightly during his luxury stint in place of Lewis Hamilton at the 2020 Sakhir GP. The 2 F2018 champion was indeed impressive against Valtteri Bottas, but he did not have nothing to lose and everything to gain given the circumstances (replacement at short notice, discovery of the single-seater, poor installation in the cockpit, etc.). All the ingredients for the feat to come were there. Russell undoubtedly responded, but one swallow does not make spring. Nicknamed Mr Saturday for his breathtaking qualifying performances aboard the modest Williams, Russell doesn't pull out all the stops in the race.

You will tell me that it is possible to get the quintessence of average equipment over a single lap, less over an entire race. And you will be right. But it did not escape me that the young Englishman could have a tendency to lose ground on the initial impulse, sometimes going so far as to slip behind the modest Haas. You will contrast me with his fantastic takeoff at the 2020 Sakhir GP to take the lead at the first braking and you will once again be right. And then after 3 seasons of scouring the shallows of the plateau, it is completely understandable to see his motivation fade sporadically. The main reason which pushes me to doubt Russell's abilities to challenge for the title next year comes down to the identity of his teammate: Lewis Hamilton. I am convinced that Mercedes, which did not spend any development tokens to design the W12, will be able to produce a competitive single-seater. Russell will therefore have the opportunity to play at the forefront. But I very much doubt that he will be able to gain the upper hand over a vengeful Hamilton, especially with a gargantuan calendar of 23 races! On the other hand, I hope that the young recruit will show more bite than his predecessor, the efficient but ultimately harmless Bottas. The new internal dynamic at Mercedes will in any case be one of the stories to watch in 2022.

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