Mercedes all set to make call by summer – Russell
GEORGE Russell expects a decision on whether he joins – or even replaces – Lewis Hamilton at Mercedes to be made by the summer.
Ahead of the new season, which starts in Bahrain on Sunday, Britain’s rising Formula One star also revealed he has hired a psychologist to deal with the strain of racing and said nobody should be ashamed to seek support for mental health.
Russell, 23, was thrust into the spotlight at the end of last year when he excelled as Hamilton’s stand-in at the Sakhir Grand Prix in Bahrain.
Russell was robbed of a fairytale victory by a rare Mercedes pit-stop mistake and then a puncture, but his performance as an 11th-hour Covid replacement for world champion
Hamilton accelerated calls for him to be promoted to Mercedes.
Russell is a member of the allconquering team’s driver academy. Hamilton and team-mate Valtteri Bottas are both out of contract at the end of the campaign, while Russell’s three-season deal with Williams also expires this year.
Russell said: “My relationship with Mercedes and (team principal) Toto Wolff is stronger than it has ever been. They know I want to be fighting for victories and championships. They saw what I could do in Bahrain.
“I need to focus on myself and I don’t need to be badgering them. In the past I have always tried to make things happen, but it is different now. I have been with Mercedes for six years, they are my second family. If it happens it will happen naturally.
“It will not be any longer than the summer break (in August) for all of the parties involved – Mercedes, Williams and for all the drivers – so it is fair on everybody.
“And unless anything catastrophic happens in the coming six months, Mercedes know the position I am in and the position they are in.
“I am getting stronger year-onyear and I believe that I am at a level and ready to be fighting for grand prix victories and world championships.
“But we will have to see. Formula
One is a funny business and I don’t take anything for granted.”
Such was the impressive nature of Russell’s super-sub appearance in December, many believe his display played a role in Mercedes and Hamilton striking only a 12-month extension. Wolff has subsequently admitted the team are considering life after their superstar driver.
Russell also revealed he explored new avenues to deal with the mental pressures of elite sport.
He added: “I started working with a psychologist. I talk to him once every six weeks and it is nice to have someone to offload to. It doesn’t matter if you are an F1 driver, or working from home, we all have our own issues to deal with and there is nothing wrong with seeking help.”