George Russell knocks the door down to climb Mercedes with an epic 2nd place in the Belgian standings

The quality of a pilot is often seen in complex circumstances, so the second place in the chaotic classification of the Belgian GP says a lot and very good about George Russell.

Lando Norris’ strong accident in Eau Rouge reopens the Spa-Francorchamps safety debate

In a session marked by rain and accident suffered by Lando Norris on the climb to the Eau Rouge, the Briton shone with his own light at the wheel of a car that is hopefully to go to Q2 and thank you. Williams seems to have raised his head slightly, thanks to his small evolution and especially to the poor performance of Haas, but that only partly explains his good work in the qualifying session at Spa.

With the track very wet, Russell knew how to square a lap that allowed him to set the 2nd fastest time of the session, only three tenths behind the pole man, Max verstappen, and just ahead of the very Lewis hamilton, which has become both his main rival and his most important ally.

And it is that Russell is in one of those points of no return in the career of a pilot. With Valtteri Bottas more than questioned, Toto wolff, boss of Mercedes, has to decide between the Finn and himself to accompany Hamilton in the important 2022 season. The seven-time champion is campaigning for Bottas because he is an easy partner: it does not deny him the position of pilot number 1, does not put his victories at risk and obeys when he has to give up. The problem for Mercedes is that its performance is not enough, and the nervousness with which it drives has already cost it a 5-position penalty here for the strike he made in Hungary.

Russell, on the other hand, is producing magnificent performances. In addition to becoming a constant in Q2 (not his partner Nicholas latifi with the other Williams), he has taken off the burden of not having scored: he did it in the chaotic race in Hungary, 8th, although behind his teammate.

For this Sunday you have a golden opportunity. Not only to finish in the top 10 again, but to finish confirming his more than firm candidacy for the seat of Mercedes. It is also an exam for Bottas: after disappointing (again) in this classification, in which he was only 8th, he will start 13th due to the penalty he carries.

Either go back and have a memorable run, or you can pick up your things from the Brackley headquarters.