NEW GP3 CHAMPION RUSSELL AIMS FOR F2
Newly-crowned GP3 champion George Russell is targeting a step up the ladder to race in Formula 2 for 2018.
The Mercedes junior driver, who sealed the GP3 title with a round to spare after outscoring his ART Grand Prix teammate Jack Aitken at Jerez last weekend, hopes to stay on the Formula 1 support bill next season.
“At the moment, there is nothing sorted,” he said. “I think it’s most likely going to be Formula 2 – that’s what I would like to do. I think it makes more sense to be in the limelight of the [Mercedes] F1 team, having the guys around me if I need [them]. And obviously, Formula 2 is a step below Formula 1. I’d say it is most likely, but we’re still in talks with teams at the moment.”
Russell – the 2014 BRDC Formula 4 champion and winner of the Mclaren Autosport Award in the same year – paid tribute to both ART and Mercedes for helping him win the third-tier category in his rookie year.
“They’ve obviously helped me a lot this season, they put their faith in me at the start of the year, and they have developed me into a better driver to get me into this position today,” he said.
Nirei Fukuzumi claimed a lights-to-flag win in race one at Jerez, with Russell following him home after putting a firm move on Aitken, who finished third, at Turn 2 on the opening lap. In the reverse grid affair, polesitter Alessio Lorandi took the win in front of Dorian Boccolacci, while Russell finished fifth on the road to take the title. Niko Kari lost third place as a result of a clash with Brit Daniel Ticktum – who was fighting for the podium in just his second GP3 race in the first event – that put DAMS driver Ticktum out late-on in the second encounter.