via Getty
FORT WORTH, TEXAS – NOVEMBER 02: Bubba Wallace, driver of the #43 Covert Auto Group Chevrolet, walks on the grid during the Salute to Veterans Qualifying Day Fueled by The Texas Lottery for the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series AAA Texas 500 at Texas Motor Speedway in Fort Worth, Texas. (Photo by Sean Gardner/Getty Images)
via Getty
FORT WORTH, TEXAS – NOVEMBER 02: Bubba Wallace, driver of the #43 Covert Auto Group Chevrolet, walks on the grid during the Salute to Veterans Qualifying Day Fueled by The Texas Lottery for the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series AAA Texas 500 at Texas Motor Speedway in Fort Worth, Texas. (Photo by Sean Gardner/Getty Images)
Earlier this week, news broke that reigning champion Lewis Hamilton had tested positive for COVID-19. With a driver short for the coming weekend, Mercedes F1 had to scramble to find a replacement.
Finally, the reigning champions settled for Williams F1’s, George Russell. In light of this, NASCAR driver Bubba Wallace congratulated Russell and sent his best wishes to Hamilton.
This weekend’s race will be new territory for Russell. Although he has tested the Mercedes car before, this is the first time he will be piloting the W11 during a Grand Prix weekend. In the meantime, Lewis Hamilton has been reduced to a spectator for the first time in his career.
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ALSO READ- CONFIRMED: George Russell Replaces Hamilton at Mercedes for the Sakhir GP
What an opportunity for @GeorgeRussell63!!! Pumped to see how he does this weekend!
Get well bro! @LewisHamilton
— Bubba Wallace (@BubbaWallace) December 2, 2020
Admittedly, Bubba Wallace is also in a similar position for the 2021 NASCAR Cup Series season. This is because he is set to join a brand new team, 23XI Racing.
What lies ahead for Bubba Wallace?
Without a doubt, Wallace’s recruitment was extremely high profile. This is because this was a team that Denny Hamlin and NBA legend, Michael Jordan, started together. Jordan has a lot of high hopes for his recruit and hopes that Bubba Wallace can bring success to the team.
via Reuters
Formula One F1 – Bahrain Grand Prix – Bahrain International Circuit, Sakhir, Bahrain – Williams’ George Russell during the press conference FIA/Handout via REUTERS
Wallace is a hugely talented driver and has finished in the Top-5 at least 3 times. In fact, he even scored a 2nd place finish at the 2018 Daytona 500.
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This was a remarkable feat, as it was his first Cup Series race at the iconic track. He also boasts of 6 wins in the Camping World Truck Series.
With all these statistics to support him, Michael Jordan and Denny Hamlin seem to have made the right choice. Now, the only thing left is for 23XI Racing to give the driver a competitive car, and he can deliver the goods.
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Of course, nobody expects miracles right off the bat; however, we can’t go as far as discounting Wallace either.
ALSO READ- NASCAR Drivers Send Their Prayers to F1 Driver Romain Grosjean After His Fiery Crash
