George Russell: Mercedes F1 talks ongoing, future in Williams’ hands

George Russell says talks are still ongoing to firm up his future in F1 as he looks for greater clarity as to where he fits into Mercedes’ plans.

The Briton made his debut F1 debut in 2019 after clinching the F2 title the year before, but while his efforts with Williams were hampered by his uncompetitive machinery he otherwise impressed to easily out-pace team-mate Robert Kubica and perform beyond the car’s capabilities.

Marking the start of his second season with Williams to show point-scoring potential in Austria before suffering an engine failure, Russell’s place on the F1 grid in 2021 is guaranteed by his affiliation with Mercedes as its junior driver.

For now that means he will compete with Williams at least, but with both Mercedes drivers out of contract at the end of the year, there remains a slim chance of either a promotion either in 2021 if Valtteri Bottas cannot reach an agreement.

“Mercedes are my managers and we've been in talks on a weekly basis, almost daily basis, for the past two years and those talks have increased as obviously I’m pushing for my future. I know what I need to do which is just perform to my maximum on track you know I do have a contract for next year with Williams so you know ultimately it's potentially in Claire’s hands of where my future lies. “We have to see in the coming weeks coming months what happened on that side of things.

Saying his F1 future will ultimately be determined by Claire Williams, Russell admits it’s unlikely he’d be anywhere except Mercedes or Williams.

“I have a contract with Williams next year, I am a Mercedes junior driver so I can say I don't think Claire would allow me to go anywhere else potentially with a Mercedes [engine] and even then who knows. Like I say, that's not in my hands that’s in her hands and full of the powers above me to deal with and see what happens there.”