‘Game Over!’ Mercedes Set Announce George Russell as Valtteri Bottas’ Replacement for 2022

‘Game Over!’ Mercedes Set Announce George Russell as Valtteri Bottas’ Replacement for 2022

Valtteri Bottas, George Russell

With George Russell showing his impressing form with a lacklustre Williams, Mercedes always had their eyes set on future plans. As a result, to which Valtteri Bottas was always on the verge of being replaced for the next season. Especially with Mercedes lacking majorly behind their rival Red Bull in the current 2021 Formula 1 season, it only seemed about time when Russell was set replace the Finn driver. 

Nine races into this season, the 2021 championship still has a long way to go with another 14 races on the schedule. But with the 31-year-old once again failing to match his team-mate Lewis Hamilton, or even act as rear gunner to the Brit, the Finnish driver and pundit reckons it is only a matter of time before Bottas gets his marching orders. 

Mercedes Set to Delay Announcement of George Russell Replacing Valtteri Bottas 

George Russell
George Russell

“It’s game over,” Vilander told broadcaster MTV. He doesn’t, however, believe Mercedes will make the announcement as early as this weekend’s British Grand Prix, fearing that Bottas could go completely off the boil if he’s informed, he’s out. 

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“It is not good for Valtteri to be informed at such an early stage that he will not continue,” he said. “[Sebastian] Vettel was quite a fiasco on Ferrari last season after it was announced at the beginning of the season that there was no new contract coming up.” 

Valtteri Bottas
Valtteri Bottas

One factor Mercedes are having to consider is the possibility that Hamilton’s new two-year contract in his last, and that means the team needs to find a driver who can win World titles. Bottas has so far shown no indication that he can do that. 

“It is perceived that Hamilton’s two-year contract is his last with the team, in which case the next champion has to be raised so that the success story can continue,” Vilander added.

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