George Russell next in at Mercedes? Brit will test Mercedes F1 car in Abu Dhabi
F1 News
George Russell will complete two full days of testing in Abu Dhabi later this week as Toto Wolff is adamant the young British driver has enough quality for a future at Mercedes. On Wednesday, Russell will be driving the Mercedes W10 car and then again two weeks later for some more tyre testing. The British driver seems to be getting lined up for a future driver role at the Mercedes F1 team.
Russell, who is part of the junior drivers' set-up at Mercedes, has a busy run-in to Christmas. He will first drive his Williams car for one last time on Tuesday in the post-Abu Dhabi Grand Prix before moving up the pitlane to Mercedes the following day. He will then go again in Pirelli's final tyre test of the season with the 18-inch wheels in preparation for the 2021 rules and regulation overhaul.
Wolff, Mercedes team boss, is confident that the 21-year-old has enough quality to become a future driver at Mercedes.
"I've said to George, who was not 100% these last days, this test is not benchmarking him because we are absolutely certain that he has the qualities of a potential future Mercedes driver. He has the raw speed, he has the talent, he has the intelligence," Wolff is quoted by Autosport.
"There is a reason why he's won F3 and F2 as a rookie. That hasn't been done many times before. And he has a flawless record in F1. It is more about the experience. So there's nothing to prove during the during these upcoming tests. George is under contract with Williams and we will always honour all contracts because they have given him the chance to step into F1. Probably if he does the test it will just confirm what we anyway know."