Sakhir GP Race Report: The Perfect Race
Man. I really did jinx things for McLaren. Anyway…
The second Grand Prix in Bahrain, with its high-speed outer loop, was always going to be crazy. But nothing was going to prepare us for what was to come. This was the race that had it all: jubilation, awe, heart-break, luck and a universally loved, first-time winner.
Bigger Winner: Formula One
Last week, we were reminded of the risks of this sport; this week, the rewards of F1 were clear to see.
Despite having feet too large for the car, it was a massive challenge for George Russell to fill in for Lewis Hamilton. He didn't do badly, topping the timesheets on Friday and qualifying a magnificent second, a matter of hundredths behind Valtteri Bottas. If Friday and Saturday weren't bad, the race start, on Sunday, was exceptional. From the dirty side of the grid, George pulled away into the lead of the race. From there on, the young Briton looked in control and was.
Another fast starter was a Mexican, who I might have mentioned once or twice before. Sergio Perez flew to third position, ahead of Max Verstappen and Charles Leclerc. Alas, Checo's high-flying start was short-lived - an ambitious Leclerc hit the Mexican from behind and took them and Verstappen out of the race. Well, that's what we thought. But remarkably, Perez's car was undamaged and could continue. Unfortunately, though, he was last.
Further ahead, the battle for the lead was controlled supremely by Russell. Maintaining a reasonable gap, looking after his tyres and appearing calm on the radio: it was as though Hamilton was still in the car. Last week, I said that if George can keep within a couple of tenths of Bottas and follow him home for second place, he'd be doing well. The maturity, pace and management shown in this race confirmed Russell not just the real deal, but a future superstar.
George should have won. However, it wasn't meant to be - Mercedes made a rare mistake, giving George the wrong tyres, causing him to point again, losing track position. The Briton's fate was s then sealed by a puncture that forced him to pit again. While he was understandably gutted, George had done enough. More on that shortly.
Meanwhile, Sergio Perez was doing what he does best - driving incredibly quickly while protecting his tyres. Only Lewis Hamilton can match Perez's skill in that regard. The Mexican pulled off the some fantastic overtakes, including on Alex Albon, who's Red Bull seat omen would think might have Perez's name on next year. The Mercedes blunder then allowed Perez to remarkable;y take the lead. From there, Sergio checked out and didn't look back. After ten years in F1 and seven years helping his team up the field, Sergio finally achieved a Grand Prix victory. Even George was happy for him - and that says a lot about both men.
This was such a feel-good weekend, after the horrors of last week, and made sweeter by Estaban Ocon achieving his first F1 podium, finishing second. He needed that confidence boost, especially with an incoming Fernando Alonso as his teammate.
Biggest Loser: Toto Wolf's head
Here are Mercedes' driver options:
Statistically the greatest driver of all time - hungrier than ever due to missing his first race since his debut, 2007. (Has no contract signed for next year)
A consistent team-player, who's pace is brilliant, but nothing stellar. (Has a contract with Mercedes signed for next year)
A young yet mature junior, who has shown that he is world championship contender material, but is yet to prove himself over the season. (Has a contract with Williams signed for next year)
I don't feel for Toto Wolff - he's got a lovely job and a pleasant problem in deciding between the above options. As long as he is still motivated and at the top level that he has been showing, Lewis Hamilton must fill one of the seats - he'll cost more, but his value is priceless.
Then, you've got the other seat to fill. According to the signed contract, it is filled by Valtteri. Therefore, I would be surprised if the Fin isn't in the car next season. I've always been of the mind that as long as Lewis Hamilton is at the team, they should keep Valtteri for stability. However, having seen George Russell's performance at the weekend, I now realise that I have been short-sighted.
George is as ready to drive in a top team as Verstappen's and Leclerc, if not more, due to his experience in a less competitive car. George won't be as complete as Lewis - but neither was Lewis at George's age, and Hamilton wasn't exactly a flop at McLaren. The point is that George is Mercedes' future - unless something strange happens, he will join Mercedes at some point with the intention and ability to win championships.
While Bottas is good on his day, his days are few and far between. As long as Lewis Hamilton is his teammate, it is unlikely that the Fin will win over the season. Based on Sakhir, things would be similar for Valtteri with George Russell as his teammate. Bottas works as a number two driver, but he has made Mercedes comfortable. For a team that likes to innovate, the Silver Arrows know that comfort is not always a good thing. It is clear that, while it has the potential for discomfort, the best line-up would be to have Hamilton and Russell. However, Mercedes have PTS from the Hamilton-Rosberg days.
I think Russell should be alongside Hamilton in 2021. But what I predict to happen is Bottas' contract to be honoured before making the transition to Hamilton-Russell for 2022. You'll lose a great man in Bottas, but you'll have arguably the best line-up in Formula One.
You can then worry about Hamilton's replacement later - I would guess Leclerc or Sainz, fed up of a faltering Ferrari dream.
Moment of the Race: Russell's move on Bottas
I won't labour the point. George Russell was unquestionably the driver of the day on Sunday. Valtteri Bottas had no answer, not even to an audacious move around the outside. If the Mercs had come together, George wouldn't have looked so favourable - but they didn't, so the boy is a hero. Go and have a look at it on Youtube, remembering that George still didn't fully know how the car worked - he even had to ask how to turn off the engine.
Honourable Mention: Romain Grosjean
Following his horror crash, Romain Grosjean spent time thanking the people that saved his life and saying goodbye to the sport of which he has been a part for the past decade. He will not race in Abu Dhabi, instead returning to Switzerland to recover and see his children. The right choice, but a sad way to end.
Romain had plenty of pace and is clearly a lovely human. I won't remember him for his incidents, that did come along too often. I'll remember Romain for the podium that he achieved at Spa for Lotus, a team on the brink of financial collapse. He celebrated like he'd won the race, and to the team, it was a win. Romain cried on the last lap of that race, and that shows the passion that he has for racing cars.
AJontheLine' Line of the weekend': Checo Radio
When Sergio Perez did finally win, through tears, he told his wife to make sure that his son was watching. After all that Checo has been through this year, it was heart-warming to know that he just wanted to show his son that victories are still possible in the hardest of times.
And on that note, I hope that the exciting, emotional and competitive end to a challenging year for us all can continue. Abu Dhabi will be the final race of the season. Usually, the race isn't interesting. However, we don't yet know whether it'll be Hamilton, Bottas or Russell as the favourite for the win. I'd be surprised if its Lewis, but he has made a living out of winning, even if he shouldn't.