Mercedes concern raised about Valtteri Bottas with George Russell change expected ‘soon’

F1: Hamilton and Bottas take the W12 Mercedes around Bahrain

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Martin Brundle is the latest voice in Formula One to suggest that it is just a matter of time before George Russell replaces Valtteri Bottas in the Mercedes second seat. Rumours have been circulating for a while, with suggestions that the change could even happen at next weekend’s British Grand Prix, heaping extra pressure on the Finn.

Bottas’ contract with the Silver Arrows is set to expire at the end of the season, while his performances have hardly put pressure on Mercedes to renew his deal.

Lagging far behind his team-mate Lewis Hamilton in the drivers’ standings, Bottas has broadly failed to function as an effective wingman for the Brit this season.

Hamilton’s new two-year, £80million contract is a symbol of Mercedes’ commitment, although many feel that it could be time for someone new to line up next to him.

Brundle recently told Sky Sports F1: “If you were running Mercedes you’d ask is Valtteri Bottas our man to win the World Championship when Lewis inevitably retires two, three, four years into the future.

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“You’d have to think no. I hate to say that, I really admire Valtteri as he is a great driver and does an amazing job against the might of Lewis Hamilton.

“But you can’t honestly say if Lewis wasn’t there Valtteri would be dominating instead, can you?

“So I think Mercedes have to get a young gun in there that would emerge as their automatic new team leader sooner than later.”

There has been plenty of hype surrounding Russell, a talented youngster who has already experienced his fair share of misfortune in the sport.

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Last time out at the Austrian Grand Prix he was narrowly pipped to his first points for Williams, finishing in an agonising 11th place.

Last year, the 23-year-old had the opportunity to deputise for a Covid-stricken Lewis Hamilton for Mercedes, and despite leading for much of the race, a puncture shattered his hopes of a maiden victory.

Recent comments by the Williams man suggest that those heartaches will only serve to make him a more fierce, mentally strong competitor in years to come.

With Red Bull pulling away in the Constructors’ Championship and Max Verstappen following suit for the driver’s title, it seems as though a change is in order for Mercedes.

Both Verstappen and his team-mate Sergio Perez have claimed all of the last five Grand Prix between them, causing Hamilton to claim that his team are ‘miles away’ from their rivals.

The first step in their pursuit of Red Bull could well be to instate Russell at Bottas’ expense, and it could happen sooner than expected if Brundle is proven right.

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