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“Great opportunity” for Aitken
The Formula 2 driver explains that the weekend is a “great opportunity” for him. But he feels “ready” because he has been working for this moment for many years. Nothing will change in his usual approach to the weekend. In any case, we are very curious to see how he will fare. This year he has already tested the Williams FW43 once in Spielberg.
Aitken: Williams himself called
We just heard Russell’s story, now he’s the Williams Aitken rookie. Exciting: He reveals he didn’t get a call from Williams, but he personally called the team on Tuesday! He was very impatient, but at first he was discouraged. On Wednesday morning he received confirmation that he would be driving.
Grosjean returns to the paddock
Pleasant images from the paddock: Romain Grosjean was discharged from the hospital as he is known – and is already back in the paddock today! It still doesn’t run completely smoothly, but that wasn’t to be expected either. But of course this raises big doubts that he will be able to drive back to Abu Dhabi in a week, which is actually his big goal.
No worries for 2022 yet
In this context, Russell also explains that he does not see the duel against Bottas this weekend as an “elimination match” for 2022. Background: It is already speculated that Russell could replace Bottas as a regular driver in 2022. But he himself says he does not. even think about these things. He just wants to do his job and, more importantly, have a Williams job in 2021 that he will focus on.
Russell: Don’t be pressured
Not only does he stress that he’s not exerting any pressure on himself, but he doesn’t have any of Toto Wolff and Mercedes either. He took over the cockpit at very short notice, hadn’t been on the Mercedes simulator for two years and his post was also three years old. Also, you can’t judge a driver based on just one race. That’s why he doesn’t feel any particular pressure.
Russell: Slightly small cockpit
The Brit is slightly taller than Lewis Hamilton and reveals he barely fits in the cockpit. He even had to wear smaller shoes. It’s not ideal, but it’s not a big deal, according to him. On the other hand, it is an advantage that the team already knows from test drives and the like. Speaking of which, the race engineer will be Peter Bonnington, so he’ll be hiring Hamilton’s crew.
Russell: “Intensive” 48 Stunden
Our focus is now also on the PK. It starts as announced with Bottas and Russell. The Brit reveals that everything went “very fast” for him and that he had 48 “intensive” hours behind him. Toto Wolff called him Tuesday morning at 2:00 am and informed him of the situation around Hamilton.
Then he told him he would have to drive for the Mercedes. Then everything had to be clarified with everyone else involved. He would also like to thank the Williams team for giving him this opportunity. However, he has no particular goals and does not want to put himself under pressure in this regard.
Look behind the scenes
George Russell will be joined by the Netflix crew this weekend. We are happy, because that means that we will have interesting insights in the new season of “Drive to Survive”. Maybe not so good for him and Mercedes because the Netflix crew didn’t always bring luck in the past …
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Three substitute drivers …
… we have this weekend at the beginning. Russell replaces Hamilton, Aitken Russell and Fittipaldi Grosjean. Which category of our photo series do they fall into after their assignment …?
Photo gallery: tops and flops: substitute drivers in Formula 1
Substitute drivers in Formula 1 have a hard time. There are many examples of this from history. But: some pilots have also shone in their spontaneous missions! In this series of photos we show the tops and flops of the Grand Prix substitutes!
Photo gallery
In Bahrain …
… by the way, it’s already dark. As a reminder: it is now 18:10 there. The PK driver will start in half an hour. For a change, we start with the two Mercedes drivers, their part was preferred. After that, however, the normal procedure follows. We are working on our way from Williams and Haas to Red Bull and Ferrari. As usual, the most important statements are here in the ticker.
© Motorsport Images
Numbers for the new layout
At just 3,543 kilometers, the shortest route of the entire season awaits us at the weekend. Monaco (3,337) is even shorter, but it is known that the race in the Principality this year failed. On Sunday there are a total of 87 laps, more than in any other Grand Prix. According to Mercedes, the acceleration rate at full throttle is around 74%, and you can expect lap times of between 54 and 55 seconds at the most.
Magnussen will lead IMSA in 2021
We talked about it a few days ago, but it is now clear that Kevin Magnussen is actually attracted to America in the sports car scene. In 2021 he will leave for Ganassi in IMSA. Let’s see if the Dane will comment on his move later in the PK. As is known, it starts in just under an hour, and the Haas guys are therefore relatively quickly in third place.
Listening recommendation
Even before the second race in Bahrain, our editor-in-chief Christian Nimmervoll was again a guest on the “Starting Grid” podcast, this time alongside Sky commentator Sascha Roos, among others. Either way, the kids haven’t run out of arguments in the last few days … Listen!
Renault: engine for Red Bull not excluded
The cops are still looking for an engine for 2022. If a solution is not found, Renault would be obliged by regulations to supply Red Bull. “We have always said to respect the rules”, underlines Cyril Abiteboul to ‘Sky’ and adds: “If we have the obligation, we will do it”.
This doesn’t necessarily seem like Renault would be particularly excited about this scenario. What remains therefore is a “frezze engine”, but here Abiteboul points out that we are practically ready for a “compromise”. However, there is “a clear line” that will not be crossed.
You can find more background information here!
Qualifications: No route bonuses during the block
Anyone who blocks another driver in qualifying and thus destroys the lap will usually receive a penalty. It won’t be different this weekend either. Race director Michael Masi stresses that the same requests will be made to the riders as always.
It’s exciting because the Bahrain tour is so short with the new layout. It will therefore hardly be possible for all 20 riders to be on track at the same time without anyone getting in the way. So on Saturday you have to be especially careful not to negotiate a penalty for the starting place.
New contract: Wolff on “baby steps” with Hamilton
The world champion has not yet signed a new contract for 2021. Toto Wolff said last weekend: “We talk about what’s good. It’s just the first baby steps, but we know we have to do it by the end of the season. year”. So Hamilton’s current contract ends. Of course, we don’t know how the infection of the world champion’s crown affects the ongoing talks.
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