George Russell To Mercedes

It finally happened. The announcement we have all been waiting for! This morning George Russell was formally announced as driving for Mercedes from the 2022 season, on a long term contract. Whilst it wasn't a shock after Bottas' announcement yesterday, it was still an incredibly exciting day.

In a post on social media, the British driver said:

"It's official. Next year, I’ll be a Mercedes F1 driver. This is a special day for me personally and professionally, but also a day of mixed emotions. 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 team-mates and friends at Williams. It has been an honour working alongside every member of the team, and an honour to represent the Williams name in F1. Since I joined in 2019, we have worked tirelessly to push each other forward and bring the team back up the grid where it belongs. We’ve battled for every qualifying position, every point, and every tenth of a second. No matter how tough it’s been, nobody has ever given up, and that has inspired me every day. I’ve loved every moment in what I’d describe as a true heart and soul racing team, and I’ll be pushing harder than ever to make sure we end our story in the best possible way. Looking ahead to next season, I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t absolutely buzzing. It’s a huge opportunity and one I want to grab with both hands. But I’m under no illusions as to the scale of the challenge; it’s going to be a steep learning curve. Valtteri has set a high bar, consistently delivering week in and week out, scoring wins, pole positions and helping win multiple championship titles. My target must be to reward the trust that Toto, the team, and the board have placed in me by ensuring I play my part in continuing that success and I want to do my new team-mates proud. Of course, one of those new team-mates is in my opinion the greatest driver of all time. I’ve looked up to Lewis since I was in go-karts and the opportunity to learn from someone who has become a role model both on and off track can only benefit me as a driver, a professional, and a human being. For now, though, I have nine more races as a Williams driver, and I want to make sure they are the best nine of my time with the team. Then, and only then, can I turn my attention to 2022. A huge thank you to Williams, to Mercedes and to everyone who has supported me in getting to where I am today. I couldn’t have done it without every single one of you. 💙"

Most fans will remember the heartbreak for George in a Mercedes at the Sakhir GP last season, when he stepped in to replace Hamilton after he tested postive for Covid. However it is important to remember that George has had a development contract with team since he was young, as they sponsored him from an early age.

Russell's previous titles include 2018 F2 Champion and 2017 GP3 Champion. He began karting in 2006, before making a debut in both Formula Renault 2.0 and F4 in 2014. He graduated to F3 in 2015 with Carlin, before switching to Hitech GP for the 2016 season. Russell then signed for ART GP to race in the 2017 GP3 season, winning the championship and joining the Mercedes junior driver programme, before moving to F2 for the 2018 season, where he beat Albon and Norris for the title. In 2019, he joined Williams on a multi-year deal and has continued to drive for the team ever since. The driver has also been appointed as a director for the GP Driver’s Association, replacing Grosjean.

Fans everywhere are incredibly excited for George and can't wait to see what he can do in a top car next season and beyond! Stay tuned for who will replace him at Williams.