F1’s George Russell will join Lewis Hamilton to drive for Mercedes

George Russell will race for Mercedes following season in an all-British lineup with 7-time environment champion Lewis Hamilton, the Formulation One particular team stated in a widely-anticipated announcement on Tuesday.

Russell, who is in his third season at Williams, will replace Finland’s Valtteri Bottas, whose shift to Alfa Romeo was built formal on Monday.

The 23-year-outdated will be Hamilton’s initially new teammate because Bottas, now 32, also joined from Williams to just take the location of retired 2016 environment champion Nico Rosberg in 2017.

Russell has by now raced the moment for Mercedes, a standout overall performance at final December’s Sakhir Grand Prix in Bahrain when Hamilton tested constructive for COVID-19 and was unable to start out.

Russell certified on the entrance row and led from the start out but finished ninth immediately after the team built a mess of the pitstop and he then experienced a late puncture immediately after an spectacular fight back again by way of the field that also brought him the swiftest lap.

He scored his initially factors for Williams this season, again catching the eye with a sensational qualifying overall performance in the damp in Belgium to put his uncompetitive car on the entrance row.

He took 2nd location in that ‘race’ in Spa that finished immediately after a couple of laps powering the protection car.

Mercedes team boss Toto Wolff stated the determination to replace Bottas experienced however not been an easy procedure or a straightforward determination.

The Finn was strongly backed by Hamilton, who has experienced a relatively easy time about their years with each other and has gained the final 4 titles, but Russell is managed by Mercedes and has extensive been seen as the encounter of the team’s foreseeable future.

Mercedes have gained the final 7 drivers’ and constructors’ championships and are primary the recent team standings immediately after thirteen races, though Hamilton is a few factors powering Purple Bull’s Max Verstappen.

Hamilton, 36, has a agreement for 2022 and 2023.