THE F1 PADDOCK’S WORST KEPT SECRET was made official yesterday as Mercedes Tuesday confirmed that George Russel would partner 7-time world champion Lewis Hamilton on the grid from next season.
The confirmation came a day after Valtteri Bottas announced he would be joining Alfa Romeo for the 2022 season on a multi-year contract.
Tipped to be the next British world champion, Russel has shown immense talent and confidence and has outperformed his Williams car in every race. Though he has looked sloppy at times during races, his excellent qualifying has earned him the name “Mr Saturday”. He proved his worth to Mercedes at the Sakhir Grand Prix last year when he had replaced Lewis Hamilton, who was recovering from Covid.
In his one stint with the Silver Arrows, he was only 0.100 seconds behind Bottas for Pole Position and should have taken a sensational win in the race if it had not been for a botched pitstop and tire puncture. But it did help him get his first points in F1.
He also picked up a very unlikely podium at Spa thanks to his brilliant qualifying lap and Williams’s first points since 2019 with his 8th place finish at the Hungarian Grand Prix.
“It’s a special day for me personally and professionally, but also a day of mixed emotions,” said Russell. “I’m excited and humbled to be joining Mercedes next year, which is a huge career step, but it also means I’ll be saying goodbye to my teammates and friends at Williams. It has been an honor working alongside every member of the team, and an honor to represent the Williams name in F1.
“We are very happy to confirm that George will have the opportunity to take the next step in his career and join Mercedes,” said Wolff. “He has been a winner in every racing category – and the past three seasons with Williams have given us a taste of what the future could hold for him in F1.
“Now, it is our challenge together to help him continue learning within our environment and alongside Lewis, the greatest F1 driver of all time. I am confident that as their relationship grows, they will form a strong team and deliver for Mercedes on and off the track in the years ahead.
Whether George will play with the rules of the team or go in the hunt for title right in the beginning will be the main question in everyone’s mind.
(By Siddhant Mane)
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