BRIT RUSSELL DESPERATE FOR TOP-LEVEL CHANCE
George Russell – who “should be in Formula 1 next year” according to 1995 British Grand Prix winner Johnny Herbert – could miss out on an F1 chance as he believes the championship is short of “at least two teams”, an opinion backed up by ex-f1 driver Derek Warwick.
Mercedes Formula 1 junior Russell has been a player in one of the best British title battles at his level in recent memory, fighting fellow Mclaren Autosport BRDC Award winner Lando Norris for the Formula 2 Championship, one step underneath Formula 1.
Both have had to overcome severe reliability issues with the new-for-2018 F2 car – which has had engine and clutch trouble but appears to have improved in recent rounds – and both have excelled under the pressure.
ART Grand Prix’s Russell has five wins to the one of Carlin driver Norris, which puts the former in a 22-point lead. There are two rounds remaining starting in Sochi this weekend, with 96 points still up for grabs including the Abu Dhabi finale in November.
But while Russell has outperformed Norris in F2, the latter has an F1 seat replacing Stoffel Vandoorne at Mclaren.
Russell, 20, is in a queue behind Racing Point Force India driver and fellow Mercedes junior Esteban Ocon for a seat next year, with the only realistic option while he is a Mercedes junior is at Williams. Teams such as Toro Rosso have baulked at taking on junior drivers from other manufacturers, narrowing the options for Russell and Ocon.
Three-time grand prix winner Herbert has been part of the Sky Sports commentary team observing F2 this year, and has been impressed by both drivers.
“If George goes on to win the championship, and personally I think he will, he should get an F1 drive,” Herbert told MN.
“It’s good getting this experience
from F2, in this tense battle that they have been in since race one. Hopefully they will be able to use that to their advantage in F1. That’s where the hard work really starts, it’s getting that momentum and carrying that through. The confidence that gives you is so, so powerful.”
Unfortunately, Russell may be robbed of that opportunity even if he does win Formula 2, as his options appear bleak.
Mercedes has confirmed that it won’t pay to put one of its drivers in another team, and team boss Toto Wolff has floated the idea of F1 teams having a third car specifically for juniors, which has been backed by Russell.
“We only have 20 cars on the grid, as a young driver trying to break into that 20 is extremely difficult,” said Russell, who has proven his pace in multiple F1 tests.
“I think the idea of a third car, or something along those lines, is a very good idea.
“You sometimes see the pay drivers getting into Formula 1, and potentially they could come in for their home race: an Asian driver comes in for the Asian races, the American drivers come in for the American races and so on.
“It gives the likes of Mercedes, Ferrari and Red Bull the chance to throw their young drivers in without any major issues.”
Derek Warwick, who is head of the Mclaren BRDC Autosport Award judging panel that chose Russell (2014) and Norris (2016) to win the honour, has put the pair on par with new Ferrari signing Charles Leclerc.
“I think that all grids – whether they be F1, Motogp, F2, GP3 or F3 – need to have at least 26 cars on them otherwise it shows that the series is not working,” he said. “Grand prix racing is no different.
“The trouble is that we all know that F1 is political, and all the engine manufacturers are controlling the driver market, which means that the opportunities are limited. They are running the show – look at the situation that Esteban Ocon is in. He can’t get another chance anywhere because there are no spaces in the Mercedes-engined teams and none of the other teams will have him because of his ties.”
Warwick added that teams – like Mercedes – need to be more risky with their driver selection.
“One of the problems could be that teams are so reluctant to take chances these days: they don’t want to take the punt,” he added.
“Look at Mercedes: Valtteri Bottas is not going to be as good as Lewis Hamilton all the time he has a head on his shoulders – but he is a safe pair of hands.
“What the team should be thinking about is when Lewis retires in a couple of years? Why wouldn’t you put a younger guy in alongside him now so that they can learn from the best? It would make perfect sense, but they don’t want to do it for some reason.” Additional reporting by Matt James
Valtteri Bottas has admitted his disappointing 2018 F1 season is now starting to take its toll on his confidence.
Bottas took three grand prix wins, 10 other podium finishes and four poles in his first campaign with Mercedes last year.
He expected 2018 to be a step forward, given the short-notice nature of his call-up after champion Nico Rosberg’s sudden retirement the previous year.
But he has not won a race since the 2017closing Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, has just six podiums and is only fourth in the standings – 110 points behind team-mate Lewis Hamilton, who has won seven times in 2018.
“It is hard. It’s always going to be hard, trying to beat him [Hamilton],” said Bottas. “And he’s having a good run now. He’s obviously really fighting for the championship and I’m not really anymore.
“I still want whatever is possible in the championship, I think third at least is possible so that’s going to be the goal for me.
“I’ll keep motivated and keep trying to bring good results. But I really feel like I need some good results now. So for confidence and everything, I need some results.”