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LONDON: George Russell has dampened speculation of an early move to Mercedes after his impressive performance as stand-in for seven times world champion Lewis Hamilton. The 22-year-old Briton fuelled some chatter when he said in Bahrain last Sunday (Dec 10) that he hoped he had given Mercedes team boss Toto Wolff a selection headache "not just for 2022, maybe sooner". "That was just a throwaway remark in the heat of the moment," Russell told reporters at Formula One's season-ending Abu Dhabi Grand Prix on Thursday. "Obviously emotions were high and what have you. I have a contract and am a Williams driver for 2021." Valtteri Bottas is out of contract at the end of next season, when Mercedes-managed Russell will be firmly in the frame for a move. The youngster is still waiting to hear whether Hamilton, still isolating in Bahrain, can race at Yas Marina after testing positive for COVID-19. "We’re still waiting to get Lewis’s results back. For now we are going ahead as … [Read more...] about Formula 1: Russell plays down ‘throwaway remark’ on Mercedes move

MANAMA: Valtteri Bottas looks increasingly on borrowed time at Mercedes after George Russell showed the Formula One world champions just how good he can be. Russell, 22, was drafted in as a late replacement for Lewis Hamilton at Sunday's Sakhir Grand Prix when the seven-times champion tested positive for COVID-19, but at times it looked like the older Briton was at the wheel. Apart from qualifying, when Bottas took pole by a whisker, Russell had the measure of the Finn and could have won but for a team error and misfortune. "We learned that George Russell is somebody to count on in the future," Mercedes team boss Toto Wolff said. "He has all the potential and all the ingredients that a future star needs." Russell, the 2018 Formula Two champion, has a long-term contract with Mercedes and has been learning the ropes at struggling Williams. The future looks bright for him. Less so for Bottas, who after being regularly beaten by one British driver, now has to worry about … [Read more...] about Formula 1: Bottas looks to be on borrowed time at Mercedes

MANAMA: Formula One champions Mercedes were fined €20,000 on Sunday (Dec 6) after they fitted the wrong front tyres to George Russell's leading car at a bungled Sakhir Grand Prix pitstop. The mistake meant stand-in Russell, replacing Lewis Hamilton after the seven times world champion tested positive for COVID-19 in Bahrain, lost position and risked a post-race disqualification. Mercedes mistakenly put tyres reserved for team mate Valtteri Bottas onto Russell's car after both pitted when the safety car was deployed, forcing the Briton to make another stop that dropped him to fifth. Russell eventually finished ninth after a late slow puncture dealt another blow just as he had moved back up to second and was reeling in Racing Points's Mexican winner Sergio Perez. Mercedes were summoned by stewards post-race for the infringement. The team explained that a radio communications technical issue was to blame, with the pit wall's message to the pit crew going unheard because … [Read more...] about Formula 1: Mercedes fined €20,000 after tyre mix-up bungle

MANAMA: Max Verstappen set the pace for Red Bull on Saturday to deny Mercedes a clean sweep of Formula One practice for the Sakhir Grand Prix. The Dutchman lapped the shorter 3.5-km outer layout of the floodlit Bahrain International Circuit in 54.064 seconds to go 0.206 seconds clear of Mercedes' Valtteri Bottas. The Finn appeared to have reasserted his authority as the lead driver at Mercedes after Lewis Hamilton's stand-in George Russell stole the spotlight by setting the fastest time in both practice sessions on Friday. The 22-year-old Briton, a substitute for Lewis Hamilton after the seven-times world champion tested positive for COVID-19, was only seventh in Saturday’s final hour of practice, 0.6 seconds off Dutchman Verstappen’s time. The Sakhir Grand Prix is the first time Hamilton, who has already wrapped up a record-equalling seventh title, will sit out a race since he made his debut at the 2007 season-opener in Australia. The sport’s most successful qualifier … [Read more...] about Verstappen denies Mercedes Sakhir practice clean sweep, Russell seventh

MANAMA: Formula One champion Lewis Hamilton's late stand-in George Russell ended his first day atop the timesheets with the fastest time for Mercedes in Friday practice for the Sakhir Grand Prix. The 22-year-old, put into Hamilton’s seat after his fellow Briton tested positive for COVID-19, could not have asked for a better start to his debut with the world champions after lapping fastest in both of the day’s two sessions. Russell headed Red Bull’s Max Verstappen in both. He also finished ahead of team mate Valtteri Bottas, who was nursing damage to his Mercedes in the opening 90 minutes and had a lap time, which would have been faster than Russell’s best, deleted for exceeding track limits in the second session. The Finn ended the two sessions fourth and 11th, respectively. “I’ve found it good,” Russell, whose 54.546 seconds benchmark from the opening session stood as the fastest time of the day, told Formula One TV. “I’m working with the best in the business and I’m … [Read more...] about Formula 1: Hamilton stand-in Russell sets practice pace on Mercedes debut