by dinizouttheoven Sun Dec 06, 2020 7:25 pm
Overall, I'm happier for Checo, because he'll probably never get another opportunity like this, even if Red Bull do exactly what they should and sign him for 2021. George, on the other hand, will get his opportunity, and likely as not he'll stroll to a World Championship or six as the Mercedes juggernaut continues to crush everything in its path, major cock-ups like today be damned.
And that opportunity should come in 2022. In a car he has little experience with (albeit not none), in a seat that didn't fit him, in boots that were too small, he beat Valtteri in a straight fight. All I'll say further to this is: Lewis, don't get well soon - not just yet, anyway. If there's any justice in this strange and repellent world we live in now, the Wu-flu will keep its hold on him for about five or six more days, just in time for George to get the result he deserved today before returning to the pit of misery at the other end of the grid.
Also with the Sword of Damocles hanging over him will be Alex Albon. Much as we may dislike Helmut Marko for the way he treats his drivers, if Red Bull really want to take the fight to Mercedes just before their engine supplier pulls out and they have to go grovelling back to Renault, they'll sign F1's newest winner. If I was Daniil Kvyat, I'd take a drive somewhere out of F1. And if I was Pierre Gasly, I'd probably be tempted to knock on Renault/Alpine's door for the day when Eyebrows decides he's had enough of his latest F1 comeback.
And I just can't get excited about Mick Schumacher joining the grid for next year... or Nikita Mazepin.
The commentators did mention that Aston Martin next year would probably be stronger with Sergio Perez driving for them instead of Sebastian Vettel, who is - as if we didn't know - spent. Better still would be if George Russell could have used a drive there as a further stepping stone to his eventual coronation as Merc's new golden boy, but I suppose he doesn't need that now. Instead, it's a Vettel/Stroll line-up there next season, and I think Dad Stroll might live to regret his decision.