Williams team boss says Russell can challenge Hamilton next season
Nov.29 - Jost Capito thinks departing Williams driver George Russell can give Lewis Hamilton a run for his money at Mercedes next year.
With Valtteri Bottas ousted, long-time Mercedes junior Russell, 23, has been called up to become Hamilton's teammate for 2022 and beyond.
Mercedes' gain, though, is Williams' loss.
"Of course I'm sad that he's leaving," Capito, the Williams team boss, told Sport1.
"On the other hand, I'm happy for him because he'll be part of an absolutely top team. He learned a lot from Williams and definitely deserves it.
"Of course we would have liked to keep him, but we have found a good replacement in Alex Albon," the German added. "He fits the team very well, is hungry and is the right person to take the next step with Williams."
When asked if Russell is ready to actually challenge Hamilton next year, Capito answered: "Yes, he is.
"I've worked with a lot of drivers, but George is really great, also with how he can assemble a team behind him. At 23 he is already unbelievably far progressed.
"The really important thing is his strength to deal with pressure. The greater the pressure, the stronger he becomes."
One interpretation, however, is that Russell may need a year to settle in at Mercedes before really charging for regular wins and the title in 2023.
"No," Capito insists.
"George is mentally, technically and technically strong enough to put pressure on Lewis already. And he wants that too, which is why he competes."
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This is an emphatic NO. Boy is he in for a hard lesson. Lol. But by all means fantasize away.
Cant wait so see him pushing Lewis and Max! Would have been interesting to see in this year's cars.
Let me be more blunt with another prediction. Boy George is not going to be a challenge for Lewis. After Lewis retires around the end of 2023 or 24(with 9 or 10 titles), Max is gonna dominate and the only current driver who can mount any semblance of a real challenge if he gets a Merc or another top performing car at that point is Gasly.
Who knows.
I think I can see a big ego in that face so he's going to be interesting to watch.
How much of Bottas's quiescence was orchestrated by the Pit Wall? I suspect he was held back whenever he presented a challenge to Hamilton's lead.
How much of that "Orchestration" has to do with how the performance characteristics of the chassis can be altered by the Pit Wall.
Hopefully George will fare better than Bottas.
'Chassis altered by the pit wall' and no doubt Elvis was on the laptop at the time.
LOL. Right!
Well, the Regulations are pretty clear, telemetry is strictly from the car to the "pit wall". Telemetry back to the car is prohibited.
Unless, of course, Elvis gets ahold of the laptop.
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