Is Russell the fastest driver in F1?

Since Verstappen arrived on the scene I was confident nobody on the grid was faster or as talented but now I'm not so sure.

Russell has been pulling miracles in a Williams FFS, that type of performance on Saturday is unheard of, I mean when has a driver pulled off something like that?!?

Whenever I've seen his onboards in qualifying his laps are perfection, you seldom see him making corrections, his style his super efficient and effortless.

Being a big Hamilton it pains for me to say this but I think Russell is going to hammer him in qualifying when they're teammates, he does not need that smoke at that point in his career.

Thoughts please.

 

I remember commentary by Will buxton When he proclaimed norris, leClerc, and russell as the real deal. I think anyone of those guys could be WDC. But you are right GR pulled a rabbit out of his hat on Saturday and everyone took notice.

 

He's definitely fast on Saturday. Hard to judge Sunday because of the car he's in but when he subbed for LH he was stellar. Hopefully, he's in a Merc next year and we'll be able to know first hand. Race pace and finishing positions are all that really matters. Nobody became WDC based on quali.

 

don't discount Gasly...he's been very impressive this year, and utterly destroys his teammate.

but yes, I think GR63 is the fastest driver in F1 right now

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The thing with Russell is he seems so smooth and at one with the car I find it hard to believe that he won't have good race pace given the right car.

With Bottas he just eats through the tyres, Russell showed what he could do given the right car when he was dominated Bottas.

Just imagine how good he will be once he fully gets to grip with the Merc and becomes embedded in to the team.

There's no wonder Hamilton is very aloof with him.

 

Gasly was also destroyed by Verstappen mate, Russell is in another stratosphere IMO.

 

Russell fastest driver on the grid??? C'mon.

You've got Lewis, Max. Norris, Leclerc and possibly Gasly whom I consider fast on the grid.

Russell is skilled.

 

true but how much of that was RB's politics and psychological warfare? dunno. Gasly has impressed the last two seasons at TR/AT

Russell destroyed Norris (and Albon ) in F2 qualifying as well. he's been quick everywhere.

 

Norris didn't look all too special against Sainz last season.

I agree though, all those mentioned are fast but Russell is looking to be on another level IMO.

We will see next season when he goes up against the GOAT.

 

But the question is why wasn't Max affected by this when he partnered RB's darling DR?

Max wiped the floor with Albon and Gasly and is doing the same with Perez.

He's the only driver who I wouldn't like to bet on that he's slower than Russell.

 

I thought Russell dispatched Bottas quite quickly last year at Sakhir. I know tires are everything and whatnot, but I remember being surprised at how quickly he got by (and not just Bottas, but really everyone else he was passing).

Agreed overall on Norris, Leclerc, and Russell being seriously talented drivers

 

I've always though DR was overrated but that's another story for another thread

 

RedBull put all their cards on Max when he came on-board to RedBull with DR.....hence as to one of the reasons why DR left RedBull. There are $25 million other reasons why DR left RedBull to Renault.

 

He had Bottas in his pocket from the start of the race as well.

Working with a team like Mercedes who will analyze his driving to the last detail I can only see him getting stronger.

His qualifying performances these last few seasons have been mesmerising, just imagine what he will do in a top team.

 

But why would they do that when DR had looked stellar up to the point of Verstappen joining the team?

Why didn't they just put all their cards on the Aussie?

At the end of the day I don't believe the politics, MV entered the team and was immediately challenging DR, something Gasly and Albon didn't come close to doing.

 

Imagine the drivers I mentioned in a top team like Mercedes.

 

DR did well against Max the first 2 years Max came on board BUT Horner to include Marko saw Max as a rising star.

 

Yes he did well, but Max did exceptionally well against a then perceived great Ricciardo.

Once Max got comfortable in the team he was much faster than DR on average in qualifying.

My point still stands though, neither Albon or Gasly did well against Verstappen.

Russell has been immense in qualifying, hell he still pulled out an amazing lap in Mugello despite taking a trip in the grass.

 

Jos had ALOT to do with all that. DR was never going to be treated fairly. That is exactly why he left.

 

If you pair up with Max at RedBull, you're in a meat grinder.....literally. Aside from DR, Perez "looks" like the best candidate but we all know Perez is really under immense pressure to back-up Max.

 

No evidence to suggest that at all IMO.

Anyway, let's try and stick to the topic please.

 

Ah yes, I forgot about Jos.

 

Perez has not been close tbh, in fact as the season progresses he's falling further behind.

I've always rated Perez and thought he would do well in a top team but sadly that doesn't appear to be the case, Max is just on another level.

I don't think RB would ever dream of putting a top driver like Russell in the team, you have to laud Mercedes for doing it, that's of course if they do.

 

Agreed on Perez.....at the moment. He really needs to up his game. Hopefully he performs better in quali and race. This .50sec off Max during quali isn't going to work and Perez needs to be right behind Max during the race given tire strat.

 

At least with Checo he has the personality to be a support driver and seems to have a team-first mentality. Just needs to back it up in the results