In the midst of contract talks between his teammate Lewis Hamilton and Mercedes, George Russell has reportedly pledged his long-term commitment to the team.
While all eyes have been on the seven-time world champion’s future, with Hamilton’s contract set to expire after the 2023 season, Russell’s position within Mercedes appears to be secure.
Rumours of a potential switch to Ferrari for Hamilton surfaced ahead of the Monaco Grand, but both the British driver and the Ferrari team have dismissed any notion of such a move.
As fans and pundits awaited news of Hamilton’s contract extension, he hinted at potential clarification after the Spanish Grand Prix, revealing a planned meeting with team boss Toto Wolff.
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“I haven’t signed anything yet,” Hamilton confirmed to reporters at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya.
“I think I’m meeting Toto tomorrow, so hopefully we can get something done.”
While Hamilton’s future remains uncertain, Russell’s place within the Mercedes ranks appears to be rock solid.
According to reports, the British driver is set to continue his Formula 1 journey with the team for the long haul, having joined the Silver Arrows at the start of last season.
Russell made his Formula 1 debut in 2019, joining the Mercedes customer outfit Williams after winning the Formula 2 championship in 2018.
He played a pivotal role in rejuvenating the struggling Williams team, earning recognition for his standout performance at the rain-soaked 2021 Belgian Grand Prix, where he qualified in an impressive second place, eventually securing his first podium.
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In 2022, Russell replaced Valtteri Bottas as Hamilton’s teammate at Mercedes and outscored the seven-time champion, accumulating 275 points compared to Hamilton’s 240.
Russell also secured Mercedes’ sole pole position of the season in Hungary and claimed their only victory at the Sao Paulo Grand Prix.
In the current 2023 Formula 1 season, he has already achieved a podium finish with a third-place result in Spain.