F1: Mercedes set to announce Russell for 2022 (3rd Update)
(GMM) Team sources, and even George Russell himself, have scotched rumors that Mercedes will make a driver announcement at Silverstone this weekend.
It has been claimed that Valtteri Bottas, who has perhaps already been told that his services are not needed beyond 2021, will have the news made official at the British GP.
His teammate Lewis Hamilton, however, is making no secret of his desire to maintain the status quo.
“Over the years, Bottas and I have built up a very solid relationship,” he is quoted by Motorsport-Total.
“I am not saying anything new, but I’ll add one thing: I think we are currently the best matched teammates in Formula 1 from the point of view of the balance within the team and working on the development of the car.
“It is clear that it will not be like this forever, but for the moment, I would like people to leave him alone. Valtteri needs to focus on his work,” Hamilton added.
Auto Motor und Sport cites sources close to Mercedes who deny that any announcements will be made this weekend.
“According to our information, the team wants to take its time and not announce anything until the summer break. Even Russell himself is not expecting any premature announcements,” the German magazine reported.
Indeed, Russell himself is quoted as saying: “Everyone knows that Mercedes will take care of me.
“But as far as my seat for the coming season is concerned, nothing has been finalized and nothing has been signed. And I can assure you there will be no announcements at Silverstone.”
However, the 23-year-old Williams driver did send his fans into a spin by posting on Twitter a photo of himself washing his Mercedes-Benz road car, with the caption: “Taking care of the things you love”.
July 13, 2021
George Russell denies that he has already signed a deal with Mercedes for 2022.
In the latest episode of the F1 Nation podcast, Russell was asked if he had signed for Mercedes and replied: “I signed with Mercedes five or six years ago now.
“That is 100% true. As everybody knows, they look after me.
“But with regards to my drive for next year, nothing has been signed or sealed, and nothing will be announced in Silverstone.
“So I can let you know that.”
July 12, 2021
“It’s game over for Bottas,” Vilander told broadcaster MTV. He doesn’t, however, believe Mercedes will make the announcement as early as this weekend’s British Grand Prix, fearing that it would shatter Bottas’ confidence.
“It is not good for Valtteri to be informed at such an early stage that he will not continue,” he said. “[Sebastian] Vettel was quite a fiasco at Ferrari last season after it was announced at the beginning of the season that there was no new contract coming up.”
However, an early announcement gives Bottas more time to find another ride, with rumors that Williams will offer him the vacated George Russell seat.
One factor Mercedes are having to consider is the possibility that Hamilton’s new two-year contract in his last, and that means the team needs to find a driver who can win World titles.
Bottas has so far shown no indication that he can do that.
“It is perceived that Hamilton’s two-year contract is his last with the team, in which case the next champion has to be raised so that the success story can continue,” Vilander added.
That driver is George Russell.
Russell has yet to be out-qualified by a team-mate in his three seasons with Williams and in his one-off Mercedes appearance at the 2020 Sakhir GP he only narrowly lost to Bottas in qualifying and would have won the grand prix had it not been for Mercedes’ horrendous pit stops.
“Russell is part of the Mercedes program,” Vilander continued. “If they want to promote him to Mercedes, it can be done easily at the end of the season.
“I don’t think Russell will be very happy to sign another Williams contract.”
July 12, 2021
(GMM) Mercedes is poised to announce the signing of George Russell for 2022 and beyond, according to a growing number of authoritative sources.
British commentators Martin Brundle and David Croft, as well as 1996 world champion Damon Hill, all admit they are expecting the news to be made official at the British GP this weekend.
“Then it’s game over for Valtteri (Bottas),” racing driver and Finnish pundit Toni Vilander told the broadcaster MTV.
“You could tell it was in his mind already,” the Finn added.
“The most important thing for Mercedes was to confirm that Hamilton is staying part of the team. So now the main pillar is in place.
“I don’t think Russell would be happy to sign another Williams agreement. You could say that Hamilton’s two-year contract will be his last, in which case the next champion will be raised next to him.
“Unfortunately these are all things that Valtteri has little influence over.”
If 23-year-old Briton Russell does get the call-up, Nico Hulkenberg or Daniil Kvyat – both F1 reserve drivers this year – are said to be in pole position to replace him at Williams.
Bottas, 31, has also been linked with a return to Williams, and also Alfa Romeo.
Russell said: “I am in constant touch with Mercedes. They have always taken care of me.
“No matter what happens, I’ll have a Mercedes engine behind me next year. I’m a Mercedes driver – I’m loyal to them,” he insisted.
“I’ve always said ‘if you do a good job, you will be rewarded’. It’s as simple as that.”