. .
Toto Wolff has rejected speculation that George Russell could be drafted as a replacement for Valtteri Bottas at Mercedes next season. Russell finished ahead of the Finn when he stood up for Lewis Hamilton at the Sakhir Grand Prix last weekend, though his efforts were hampered by a pit stop mistake and an unfortunate slow flat tire.
The Norfolk-born driver is widely considered a future world champion and is expected to move to Mercedes in the near future. Team boss Wolff has confirmed, however, that he will not have a chance with Bottas and will stay at least one more season.
« It will be in our car, I hereby confirm. We have a contract with Valtteri, « said Wolff to Autosport.
« He will be racing next year. You have to kick me pretty hard in a sensitive area for me to ever lose my loyalty. And I am loyal to my two racing drivers.
« I am also loyal to our young drivers. George did a phenomenal job this past weekend. He deserves to be in a great car one day. He has a contract with Williams for an additional year.
« You have been very flexible and accommodating having George and giving George to Mercedes this other weekend and everything will go its own way. But calm and structured. «
Russell joined Williams for the 2019 season after winning the prestigious F2 championship the previous year.
He has overtaken teammate Robert Kubica in every Grand Prix event during his debut season, and set a similar record against Nicholas Latifi this year.
After qualifying for the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix on Saturday, Russell lifted the lid on his brief stint at Mercedes, highlighting the « sad reality » of Formula 1 after returning to Williams after Lewis Hamilton’s recovery from the coronavirus.
« In a way, I feel more comfortable here at Williams because it’s my car, where I’ve been for two years. But in the end we just don’t have the speed.
« As a driver you do the same job, but one week you fight in the top three, the next week you are in the bottom three.
Russell starts on Sunday 18. Place in the race after retiring in first qualifying. Pietro Fittipaldi from Haas and Latifi support the rest of the grid.
Red Bull’s Max Verstappen took pole position from Bottas on Saturday when Hamilton secured third place ahead of McLaren’s Lando Norris in fourth.
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Mercedes AMG Petronas F1-Team, Valtteri Bottas, Formula 1, Toto Wolff, Lewis Hamilton, Grand Prix of Abu Dhabi, George Russell
World news – USA – George Russell sacked to Mercedes as Toto Wolff, Valtteri Bottas makes the announcement
. . Related title :
– George Russell to Mercedes as dismissed Toto Wolff makes Valtteri Bottas announcement
– Wolff: Bottas wins& # 39; t will lose Mercedes seat for Russell in 2021
– Mercedes had stopped engines in Abu Dhabi
– Wolff closes Russell speculation by confirming that Botta’s & # 39 is; will be in our car& # 39; in 2021
– Toto Wolff open to Lewis Hamilton, who is concerns withdraws from Abu Dhabi for health reasons
– Wolff insists that Mercedes Bottas will be replaced by Russell in 2021 will not be replaced by Russell
– Bottas will be & # 39; in our car& # 39; in 2021 – Wolff
– » Bottas will be in our car « – Mercedes F1 boss Toto Wolff confirms that George Russell will not replace Valtteri Bottas . . .
– Supporting Wolff is happy to give Bottas more & # 39; open communication & # 39;
– Hamilton " absolutely good enough to drive " despite health concerns – Wolff
Ref: https://www.express.co.uk
