George Russell to drive for Mercedes in 2022 tyre test
Tuesday, 3 August 2021
The Brit will have a chance to impress Mercedes.
George Russell will get behind the wheel of a Mercedes this week as speculation around a Formula 1® promotion persists.
Russell is widely considered to be vying with current Mercedes driver Valtteri Bottas for a seat next season.
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And the Williams man will get the opportunity to join the team in Hungary on Tuesday to test the 18-inch tyres that will be used in 2022.
Russell was part of Mercedes' junior driver programme before getting his F1® opportunity with Williams and has tested for the Silver Arrows previously.
The 23-year-old even stood in for Lewis Hamilton at the 2020 Sakhir Grand Prix when the world champion had tested positive for coronavirus.
A pit-stop mix-up cost Russell the victory on that occasion, but a ninth-placed finish secured his first points.
@MercedesAMGF1 is testing the #Fit4F1 18-inch 2022 tyres this week. At the wheel is @GeorgeRussell63, for one day only on Tuesday at the @HungaroringF1. @F1 @fia pic.twitter.com/qk2s6LSFpb
— Pirelli Motorsport (@pirellisport) August 2, 2021
The Bottas rivalry will draw extra attention to Russell's performance this week, though, coming straight after his best ever result at the Hungarian Grand Prix.
Russell finished eighth, earning points with Williams for the first time.
Bottas had started from second after a record-equalling 80th qualifying one-two for Mercedes, but he crashed on lap one in a chaotic start.
