George Russell silly season

It will be interesting to see how it plays out if things get shaken up. Verstappen, Leclerc, Russell, and Piastri are the top four, in my opinion.

 

It's funny to think how the assessment of Norris has fallen since the last few races of 2024. Before that he would have been rated higher than Piastri- certainly top 4.

 

I think it's because this is now Norris's 7th season in F1 and he couldn't clinch it in the best car last season. That was very telling regarding his ability to handle the pressure.

Conversely, this is only Piastri's third season in F1 and he has won three of the first five GPs to Norris's one. Australia aside, he has been far more solid than his teammate.

 

Piastri and Russell are the only drivers I see on the grid who are nearing the top of their form. George is doing more with less car. Norris is showing too many cracks and not enough focus in his make up. Flashes of brilliance, yes, but if he is lucky (VERY lucky) enough to win the WDC this year, I don't think he has what it takes to ever be a repeat winner. Mercedes, even with its fall from winning form, has been quietly coming back. They have two good drivers, and probably the largest technical department on the grid. Russell would be wise to stay with them. And Piastri with McLaren. Max is in great form, at his peak, but that means he has only one way to go...and we can see the result of no longer having the best car. Ferrari is simply a symbol of the past...there is no one in a leadership position who can rescue it. Looking at the difference between Max and Leclerc says it all. Max is a fighter, Leclerc is a whimp in comparison. The rest of the grid are either never weres or never wills. Not always their faults, just being in the wrong team at the wrong time. I just don't see any winners among them, teams or drivers.

 

I think what people are starting to believe is that his talent is let down by his mental capacity. Maybe people are seeing or believing that he can't handle the pressure when it really mounts... or counts. I'm not sure myself, but I think it's the same with Russell.

 

Agreed, but it’s probably as much the environment of F1 as it is the machinery.

 

With all due respect, get a effing grip man.

 

George won the F3 and 2 titles in his rookie year in arguably the strongest F2 field in recent memory. Albon and Lando were there, who both became #1 F1 drivers. He got 7 wins in F2 which is the same as Leclerc. In 2022 George got 19 top 5's and a win in the zero pod. He isn't Max but he's not far off.

George was never really in play IMO. He was chosen by the late Nicki Lauda as the first Mercedes program driver. There was a seat available but Kimi Antonelli has it now.

Besides, Kimi is not #2 driver material either. So Toto would have to move George and Kimi off the team to get Max. Max is at the same point Michael Schumacher was. He can demand a true #2 teammate and will. Jos would demand a true #2 teammate as well. Toto is a bit out of touch about how Jos is to deal with.

Max should stick with Red Bull before he starts looking for greener pastures like Fernando Alonso did. Max isn't the young gun anymore. Who would have thought that Alonso would spend so much of his career from the outside of the top teams looking in.

 

Charles has really kicked it up. Look at his last drive of last year. Look at last weekend. This car is a truck and he killed it. Maybe John should go join the redbull group.

 

I don't think he's aware that F1 isn't a spec series.

 

Russell gets a new AMG One. All black with the #63 on the lower side in front of the rear wheel.

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Beautiful

 

I guess that's what sucks about driving for Mercedes rather than Ferrari.... You end up driving Mercedes road car rather than a Ferrari.....

But seriously, that is a beautiful car. But I'd rather have a Ferrari......

 

Another useless hypercar, perfect for trundling around Monaco.

 

Only hypercar with an F1 turbo hybrid engine that's been detuned for longevity. It even has active aero on the rear wing and slits above the front fender quarter panel on the upper portion that activate depending on the braking or speed of the car.

To each his own I guess.

 

Remember where Mercedes are on the quality site

 

Indeed. I’d love to have it. So I could sell it and buy a few cars I can actually drive. I wonder how much 44 would give for it….

 

Hell, I don't even want an F1 turbo hybrid 'motor' in an F1 car, let alone my road car!!!