Williams team not ruling out Russell-Bottas swap next season
Jun.16 - Valtteri Bottas' future looks set to take centre stage this weekend at Paul Ricard.
More and more authoritative sources are reporting that the decision to replace the Finn with Mercedes junior George Russell next year is all but made.
RTL claims that Toto Wolff intends to kick off talks with Bottas in an official capacity this weekend ahead of the French GP.
"The final decision should then be made after the second race in Austria, to give him enough time to search for a new cockpit," the German broadcaster said.
However, there are even rumours that Russell could be fast-tracked into Bottas' seat before the end of the season, as Mercedes is worried about its current level of performance for the 2021 constructors' championship.
"You'd have to ask Toto," said Williams team principal Jost Capito when asked about that.
"We assume that George will be with us until the end of the season, and he would like that too. Everything else is speculation," the German insisted.
"We have a contract with him, which is valid. But you know that anything can be arranged if it is necessary. I have a good relationship with Toto," he said.
"He can call me at any time."
However, Capito thinks that if Wolff does make a driver change, it will wait until 2022.
"I think it's too early - he has two drivers already," he said. "We'll have to wait and see how things develop this year."
What is more likely is that, if Russell does arrive at Mercedes for 2022, a return to Williams for former team driver Bottas would appear to be the most logical move.
"At the moment I wouldn't rule anything out," said Capito. "It's all open."
Red Bull's Dr Helmut Marko, however, thinks a mid-season Russell-Bottas swap is definitely possible.
"It wouldn't surprise me," he said.
"Russell has been parked at Williams for long enough, and last year he proved how competitive he is in Hamilton's car. He can't put his career on hold for any longer."
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nodoubt the wcc is important, whats it worth 30 Million, LH wants 50 M illion inc bonuses if he wins next year dont worry about the WCC , just dont re sign Hamster and run with VB and GR, I SAY AGAIN 50m for a one yr deal, so with a budget of 140M Hammy wants 50 lol, LH is on a lose lose in this i feel
Shoddypost - seems you know more about Hamiltons 2022 contract than him, or do you just make it up, I'd suggest the later unless you can post screen shots.
Run with VB, you know less about drivers ability than I thought you did, which isn't very much.
no its just that i can read
A B C D E F 1 2 3 4 5 6.......please forward this chart to awardguy, we are not speaking.
On topic: why are we getting all wound up on 2022 when we are only 6 races into a planned 23 race season? Why not argue over who is the best of the great crop of young guns? IMO, it ain't Georgie Boy.
Love LN to get a pole , hes been knocking on the door for a while now, as to whose best out of the bunch ,mmm hard to say leclercs probably got most pressure on him , but maybe less than in other yrs
Cannot get past 6 ROR? Not surprised.
Here you go F1award, start with these , see how you get on
A B C D E F 1 2 3 4 5 6..
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