Actually hope whoever replaces Hamilton thrashes Bottas, the dude is a complete waste of a seat

I'll be surprised if it's not Russell in the car tbh

in 2009 Fisichella had a good season in the Force India but couldnt get to grips with the Ferrari when subbing for Massa. I doubt Russell would do any better on such short notice. Vandoorne might know the simulated version of the car at least.

Perez might even be a better option as he is already used to the 2019 Mercedes so the step to the 2020 might be smaller.

I'll be surprised if it's not Russell in the car tbh

Hulkenberg was able to jump into the Racing Point with literally no relevant experience, after several months out of the car, on a tough circuit and still did a decent job. Russell's been racing all year - he's going to be a lot more ready than Vandoorne who's only driven Formula E cars, which - with no disrespect to Formula E - is completely irrelevant to driving an F1 car. I don't buy that the simulator is relevant either - it's why they're not sending for Gutierrez or Davidson - but even if it was, I imagine Russell will have been at Brackley to do a bit of sim work, especially as he tested the car last year

Fisi struggled in 2009 because the Ferrari was an incredibly difficult car to drive. He went from a car without KERS to a car with KERS and the balance was all different. The cars of today are a lot more similar. I don't expect Russell to be on Bottas' pace but I think he'll get into Q3 and have a decent chance of a podium. With Vandoorne, he hasn't stepped in an F1 car for 2 years - I think you'd likely see him at the back of the grid, regardless of how good that car is. Mercedes might have won everything but they want to keep winning - that's why Russell has to be the #1 choice. Roberto Chinchero seems to be confirming that: https://it.motorsport.com/f1/news/f1-me ... e/4919241/

While you might be correct I don't see any direct benefit for Williams to let him go. While he did mess up points on several occasions he is still, on paper, their best shot at points.

Merc might offer Vandoorne in the deal but then you get the stuff you just said about him.

I think Merc is going to be the gentleman here and give it to Vandoorne as there isnt much on the line for them anymore this season.

What could possibly be gained from putting Russell in?
It will hurt Williams who are still in a fight for championship position with Haas.
It could hurt Russell if he messes up.
It could hurt Mercedes and Bottas if Russell beats Bottas.
It would hurt their relationship with their appointed reserve driver.
And for what? It's not like Russell will go to Mercedes next year and the cars in 2022 will be completely different.

What will be gained will be not having a car at the back of the grid. Ultimately whatever the risks to Russell's reputation by putting him in the car, I can't see how he'll do worse than Vandoorne, given he's a lot more prepared for the situation. I'd be surprised if he doesn't get out of Q2, and astonished if he doesn't get out of Q1. Bear minimum, he'll be around Albon's pace. That's enough to get solid points in the race, and potentially put himself in a position to pick up the pieces if Bottas has yet another problem

I think the risk to Vandoorne's reputation is a lot greater than it is to Russell's here - Vandoorne's probably finished as far as F1's concerned anyway, but he's definitely finished if he jumps into that Mercedes and can't get out of Q1, and there's a decent chance that'll happen, because he's not going to be prepared for driving that car on Friday. He'd be an absolute laughing stock. I know that'd be entirely unfair - he's a very talented driver who didn't get the breaks he deserved in F1, but it's how it'd be interpreted by the wider public, like Villeneuve's Renault appearances or Badoer's Ferrari races

Ultimately every F1 race is a risk to a driver's reputation. I'm sure Mercedes won't be scared of the impact it'd have on Russell - otherwise they wouldn't be backing him. I'm sure Russell isn't scared either. And I don't see how Williams can stand in his way, unless Mercedes did a really bad job of the contract when they loaned him. Surely they put release clauses in for exactly this sort of eventuality, because that's what lawyers are for