Official: George Russell replaces Lewis Hamilton for the Sakhir Grand Prix

While the names of Stoffel Vandoorne and Nico Hülkenberg were being circulated, the surprise ultimately came from Williams.

Mercedes has decided to reward one of the drivers from its program: it is indeed George Russell, the current Williams driver, who will take the wheel of the seven-time world champion’s car. In return, the Grove team will request financial compensation, such as a reduction on the price of the 2021 engine, for example.

Jack Aitken replaces Russell at Williams

In the battle at the bottom of the team standings, Williams has still not scored any points and hopes to take advantage of Team Haas’s misfortunes to overtake them in the constructors’ standings. For its part, Williams has announced the arrival of one of its reserve drivers, 25-year-old English driver Jack Aitken. He was supposed to take part in the Free Practice 1 session this Friday, but he will now participate in the entire weekend.

Positive for coronavirus, Lewis Hamilton had to forgo participating in the Sakhir Grand Prix and has since been placed in isolation for about ten days. Therefore, it is a strong choice made in replacement by the Mercedes team: it is indeed the first time that one of the drivers from their program will be able to participate in a Grand Prix at the wheel of a Mercedes. Other drivers like Pascal Wehrlein or Esteban Ocon have not had this opportunity.

Nobody can replace this guy, but I’ll give my all for the team in his absence from the moment I step in the car.

Get well soon Lewis ???? pic.twitter.com/2fKTmbmaU0

— George Russell (@GeorgeRussell63) December 2, 2020