Even then Russell could have won but for the misfortune of a late puncture. With Bottas lying fourth and Russell fifth as the safety car came in, the race win was anyone’s. But this was a weekend in which Russell announced himself as a future star of F1, and Bottas will surely know the writing is on the wall for his Mercedes seat at the end of next season at the latest. Bottas needs Russell to race, and he needs to convincingly beat him this time if he is to have any chance of a Mercedes future beyond next year.

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