{"id":96448,"date":"2023-11-23T16:39:51","date_gmt":"2023-11-23T16:39:51","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/stopsmokingway.com\/?p=96448"},"modified":"2023-11-23T16:39:51","modified_gmt":"2023-11-23T16:39:51","slug":"mercedes-wrong-to-axe-valtteri-bottas-for-george-russell-as-hamilton-suffering","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/stopsmokingway.com\/racing\/mercedes-wrong-to-axe-valtteri-bottas-for-george-russell-as-hamilton-suffering\/","title":{"rendered":"Mercedes \u2018wrong to axe Valtteri Bottas for George Russell\u2019 as Hamilton suffering"},"content":{"rendered":"

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Mercedes have been told they made a mistake by replacing Valtteri Bottas with George Russell in 2022. Bottas was axed to make way for the highly-rated Russell, but there has been scrutiny over the decision after two disappointing seasons for the Silver Arrows.<\/p>\n

Bottas was Hamilton\u2019s partner for the Formula One icon\u2019s four consecutive World Championship victories between 2017 and 2020. The Fin was often praised for getting the best out of the Mercedes star.<\/p>\n

However, Hamilton has shared a different relationship with Russell since the 25-year-old\u2019s arrival at the start of the 2022 campaign. Instead of Russell supporting Hamilton to victories – like Bottas did – both drivers have often battled each other.<\/p>\n

Former Williams chief Peter Windsor believes Russell\u2019s presence does not bring the best form out of Hamilton, subsequently knocking the 38-year-old\u2019s confidence. Mercedes\u2019 only victory since Russell\u2019s arrival came when the younger Briton won the Brazilian Grand Prix last year.<\/p>\n

READ MORE: <\/strong> Wolff’s face says it all as Mercedes chief summoned to stewards at Abu Dhabi GP[LATEST] <\/strong><\/p>\n

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\u201cWhen you watch Bottas in that black Alfa, it looks a little bit like Bottas in the black Mercedes days and you still think: \u2018Hmm, did Mercedes do the right thing in firing him and replacing him with George Russell?\u2019,\u201d Windsor said on his YouTube channel.<\/p>\n

\u201cNot because George isn\u2019t quick \u2013 George is a quicker driver than Valtteri, absolutely no doubt about that \u2013 but in terms of getting the best from Lewis, would we have a different Lewis if Valtteri was in the other car? That\u2019s an unanswered question, of course.<\/p>\n

\u201cMy opinion is yes and I think the minute George starts to go quicker than Lewis, you can see it eating into Lewis\u2019s self-confidence and doubt.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou can hear him on the radio saying: \u2018What is the margin?\u2019 And when they say where George is, you can [hear] a breath of: \u2018Oof.\u2019<\/p>\n