[ 2020 ] AMG Mercedes F1 Team - Mercedes

[dtro]

Looks like Bottas has dropped all references to Merc on his IG and Russell has dropped all references to Williams on his.

I don't think this is what people are hoping for. It could, but i don't think so.
It can have a whole lot more to do with marketing.

For example, in the case of Russell, right now, he's not racing for Williams, which 'could' be confusing, especially in the modern world where you can't say, claim, or post anything anymore without some 'political correct' keyboard hero whateverist making a thing of it. I mean, let's face it, we're here talking a instagram page 'change'. What world are we in?!

But anyway, in George's case, it might be a case of making sure Williams' corporate heads - or perhaps actually Mercedes corporate heads - don't want people to think it's George racing @ Williams for the last races, perhaps Sponsors, or anything like that.

Again, it could be as simple as 'George doesn't race for Williams this weekend, let's make sure our sponsors have nothing to bitch about so just make sure that's clear in his social media account'.

Now as for Bottas, yes, it could be read as suspicious, but there's probably a reason behind that too.
First of all, Toto himself mentioned he has a contract for 2021, and Russell too with Williams.
It's also VERRRRRYYYY unlikely that right before the final GP Bottas has heared he's not driving in 2021 for them anymore, no announcement, nothing. Not impossible, but very unlikely nonetheless.

It could actually be that there's a 'change' in policy with Mercedes for all their F1 liasons. So perhaps it would be interesting to check Lewis, Latifi, Sainz, etc etc accounts too while at it.

It could also be that Mercedes is 'changing' some 'link' or 'connection', perhaps due to INEOS sponsorship or something like that.

Yes,it's all a bit coincidental and suspect, but then again, let's not get carried away over INSTAGRAM.

After all, it doesn't say Lewis Hamilton is a F1 driver on his Instagram page, at all. Should we go berserk and claim that's proof Lewis has ended his F1 career?

Nothing like a bit of hot air to inflate the F1 bubble before we go to the last race where the WDC and WCC are wrapped up save for positions lower down the order.

It does appear that there's no rhyme or reason having checked a few other F1 driver's pages. Ricci has no mention to Renault in his bio, Sainz does mention McLaren, I won't go through the entire order as I like to think I have a life.

It looks like you're right, though wouldn't it make for some insanity if Bottas was replaced by Russell/Hamilton's contract negotiations hit a stumbling point and George is hired for a pittance in comparison.

Regardless, it's wait and see.

[Hoffman900]

I suspect there is some trolling going on.

The guy who runs Mercedes social media accounts made a joke last night on his personal Twitter saying “change profile and turn phone off”. He has since deleted it, but I think his point was made.

I would probably troll the media / fans too if I were them, especially if I was getting as much flack as Valtteri. Even then as everyone wants to hang on to every little word they say / thing they do. I’d probably be laughing with my buds after doing a “watch this” and watch the F1 media circus / forums explode.

[Manoah2u]

I suspect there is some trolling going on.

The guy who runs Mercedes social media accounts made a joke last night on his personal Twitter saying “change profile and turn phone off”. He has since deleted it, but I think his point was made.

I would probably troll the media / fans too if I were them, especially if I was getting as much flack as Valtteri. Even then as everyone wants to hang on to every little word they say / thing they do. I’d probably be laughing with my buds after doing a “watch this” and watch the F1 media circus / forums explode.

That would be a boss move from an employee

[Hoffman900]

With people hanging on to EVERYTHING and the way they read into nothing, it’s not hard to do. Valtteri took a photo of the letter “W” today and the internet is blowing up. He’s probably drinking coffee somewhere and having a chuckle.

[Scorpaguy]

With people hanging on to EVERYTHING and the way they read into nothing, it’s not hard to do. Valtteri took a photo of the letter “W” today and the internet is blowing up. He’s probably drinking coffee somewhere and having a chuckle.

...likely just an upside down "M"

[Hoffman900]

[e30ernest]

Mercedes really are masters at trolling in social media.

[Phil]

https://twitter.com/LewisHamilton/statu ... 19778?s=19

Am I the only one who noticed the conspicuous absence of any mention of a negative test result though?

Also while he claims to "feel great" he did not look or sound great. He looked and sounded like what I'd expect of someone just getting over a mild case of Covid - exhausted!!

I don't think Hamilton account is anything like an official account. He often makes videos, informing his followers what's up or what he is doing. The message is what it is - a video to his fans on how he is feeling. Nothing more nothing less.

Anything official will surely be communicated through the official Mercedes F1 account. Personally, I'm not expecting him in Abu Dhabi, but we'll see.

[adrianjordan]

https://twitter.com/LewisHamilton/statu ... 19778?s=19

Am I the only one who noticed the conspicuous absence of any mention of a negative test result though?

Also while he claims to "feel great" he did not look or sound great. He looked and sounded like what I'd expect of someone just getting over a mild case of Covid - exhausted!!

I don't think Hamilton account is anything like an official account. He often makes videos, informing his followers what's up or what he is doing. The message is what it is - a video to his fans on how he is feeling. Nothing more nothing less.

Anything official will surely be communicated through the official Mercedes F1 account. Personally, I'm not expecting him in Abu Dhabi, but we'll see.

Oh I'm well aware of that. What I mean is, if he'd already returned a negative result then surely he'd have shared that news in the context of that video

I definitely agree though, anything official will come through Mercedes.

You would think we'll hear in the next 24 hours or so....

[e30ernest]

I was thinking we'd hear around this time now wouldn't we? The race is 4 days away and practice is 2 days away.

[adrianjordan]

BBC F1 is reporting that Hamilton's management will need to secure special dispensation for him to be even allowed in the country.

I'm really kind of hoping Russell gets another shot in the Merc this weekend.

[Just_a_fan]

BBC F1 is reporting that Hamilton's management will need to secure special dispensation for him to be even allowed in the country.

I'm really kind of hoping Russell gets another shot in the Merc this weekend.

I'd like to see Russell have another race too. The guy's the real deal and absolutely is one of the "champions of the future" who should be talked about with Max and Charles.

I'd love to see him in the Mercedes alongside Lewis next year but I don't think there's any real chance of that happening.

[Fulcrum]

It might be to Russell's benefit if Hamilton drove this weekend.

Outside of winning the race, Russell couldn't have made a better first impression. Moreover, the circumstances were ideal. The shortest track configuration (by time) in history, and half of that layout shared with the track from the previous weekend, with the other half being completely unfamiliar to everyone.

If he matches Bottas again, great, but I wouldn't bet on it. Russell consistently lost time through the T1-T3 complex at Sakhir, largely as a result of being unfamiliar with the capabilities of the car relative to what he has become used to at Williams. Abu Dhabi is much more technical than the Sakhir layout, so I expect Russell to have a more difficult time.

In any event, relative to current (unrealistic) expectations, I see some downside risks for Russell were he to drive this weekend.

To add some hypothetical spice though.

Hamilton comes back, Bottas gets COVID. Hamilton vs. Russell.

[Moore77]

It might be to Russell's benefit if Hamilton drove this weekend.

Outside of winning the race, Russell couldn't have made a better first impression. Moreover, the circumstances were ideal. The shortest track configuration (by time) in history, and half of that layout shared with the track from the previous weekend, with the other half being completely unfamiliar to everyone.

If he matches Bottas again, great, but I wouldn't bet on it. Russell consistently lost time through the T1-T3 complex at Sakhir, largely as a result of being unfamiliar with the capabilities of the car relative to what he has become used to at Williams. Abu Dhabi is much more technical than the Sakhir layout, so I expect Russell to have a more difficult time.

In any event, relative to current (unrealistic) expectations, I see some downside risks for Russell were he to drive this weekend.

To add some hypothetical spice though.

Hamilton comes back, Bottas gets COVID. Hamilton vs. Russell.

There are limiting factors to consider in his first outing, which probably played a bigger role. He couldn't have any say in the setup of the car, which is most likely why, he struggled in T1 in quali and not to mention, the demons at the back of the mind of any rookie in a new environment with loads of expectations (although were being played down, but everyone was watching). He could have easily screwed, yet he didn't. With the second part having sorted, with a good performance earing kudos and now (hopefully a second race on the card) an opportunity to sit at the table and clearly tell what he needs in the car and move setup to more towards his liking, he might be in far stronger position for Abu Dhabi.

With a few days in hand and loads of data to go over, a good driver should be able to identify the gaps in the performance and a good understanding to fill in those as much as he can in the next outing, one can expect a far better showing. The more technical a track is, the better it suits an intelligent and a strong driver. When George participated in eSeries at the beginning of this year, he was nowhere as he had no clue how to go about it whereas Leclerc started off with the wins. But George came back to then win multiple races by identifying the improvement areas and fixing them. One can expect, he can replicate some of that in his next outing in Abu Dhabi with W11. There barely much Bottas can fix, beyond driving his usual style and with the same 100% that he gave in Sakhir GP. I doubt he has anything more in store.

So, it would be exciting to see him have another go.

[SiLo]

Toto said he couldn't brake properly because of how he fit into the car.