Sticking with Valtteri Bottas for five years, even in the midst of calls to axe him, George Russell says he 'admires' Mercedes' loyalty to its drivers. Of course he is also hoping that same loyalty applies to him. Russell is stepping up to the big leagues this season, the Briton signed as Bottas' replacement with the Finn off to Alfa Romeo. Bottas' exit brings to an end Mercedes' five successive seasons with the same line up, one which many pundits felt should have ended earlier. Replacing Nico Rosberg in 2017, Bottas was initially a solid 'wingman' for Lewis Hamilton but as time went by it seemed – at least from the outside – that Mercedes could do better with another driver....
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