George Russell still free of contract for 2022
George Russell's future will not be known at Silverstone, as he has not yet signed a contract with Mercedes or any other team.
For several days, a circulating rumor claims that George Russell has already signed with Mercedes for the 2022 season, thus replacing Valtteri Bottas.
If we already know that the steering wheel of the second Silver Arrow will be played between the British and the Finn, nothing has officially been revealed by Mercedes, but the German team has admitted that a decision will be made this summer.
According to Helmut Marko, the head of Red Bull’s young driver program, he believes that the scales are tipping in favor of #63 after its achievements at the beginning of the year.
However, despite all these rumors, George Russell wanted to clarify the situation and stated, in the F1Nation podcast, that he had not signed a contract with Mercedes for the 2022 season.
I signed with Mercedes five or six years ago. It’s 100% true. As everyone knows, they take care of me. But regarding my steering wheel for next year, nothing has been signed or confirmed, and nothing will be announced at Silverstone. I’m able to tell you.
Although he is excited to join the current world champion team, Russell is convinced that he will not be driving the Mercedes right away. The Briton also added that he was impressed by Williams’ progress and that if he did not get the second seat alongside Lewis Hamilton, he would be happy to stay with his current team.
« Of course, the team finished last in the last three years, but I am convinced that this will not be the case next year. The situation is really improving. Things are falling into place. Jost (Capito) is doing a fantastic job of building this structure so that everyone is more efficient, so that it is simpler, and every decision made so far has been for the right reasons, in my opinion. »
« I do not see why Williams could not return to the forefront by fighting in the next two years. It may seem silly or stupid now, but just think back to 2013 when Valtteri and Maldonado were in the car. They finished ninth or tenth among the constructors, but finished third the following year with podiums in most races, pole positions. This sport can change in the blink of an eye when there is such a big rule change. Let’s keep our fingers crossed for Williams, let’s hope it changes for the better,” he said.
