[ad_1]
Williams driver George Russell is the leading candidate to replace Lewis Hamilton at Mercedes for the Sakhir Grand Prix this weekend.
Mercedes has guided Russell’s career since 2017 and has reached out to Williams to see if the team would release him.
The alternative position is for Mercedes to use its reserve driver Stoffel Vandoorne.
Raced for McLaren in 2017 and 2018.
A Mercedes spokesman said the team “did not comment on speculation.”
Russell was a reserve driver for Mercedes in 2018 before he was left to Williams on a three-year contract from the start of the 2019 season, and the team rates him highly as a candidate for possible future driving.
The 22-year-old Brit has tested multiple times for Mercedes, but racing it in Bahrain this weekend, as well as potentially the season-ending race in Abu Dhabi a week later if Hamilton doesn’t recover in time, is a good chance for him team to assess their development in a competitive environment.
Mercedes asked about Williams’ position on Russell in the summer before confirming Valtteri Bottas for the 2021 season, but they were told they weren’t prepared to release him.
However, that was under Williams’ previous management prior to its sale to investment group Dorilton Capital in August.
Talks are ongoing, and if an agreement can be reached for Russell to drive for Mercedes, it is unclear who would replace him at Williams.
His reserve driver is British Jack Aitken, who is in his third season in Formula 2 and has not competed in F1.
Vandoorne, who races for Mercedes in Formula E, could potentially be available in a trade, or they could opt for an experienced driver like German Nico Hulkenberg, who has substituted three times at Racing Point this season after positive coronavirus tests for his pilots. Sergio Pérez and Lance Stroll.
Hulkenberg made his F1 debut with Williams in 2010 and clinched pole position in the penultimate race of the season in Brazil.
Williams also has a development driver in Dan Ticktum, another Brit who is racing in Formula 2 this year.
