Russell: "Feel like I'm ready to fight for wins"

The future of George Russell. Every year he finds himself in the same situation. If a driver leaves Mercedes, he will probably be at the top of the list to sit next to Hamilton (or someone else) in the black arrow. This year, Russell would prefer to get clarity on 2022 a little earlier.

This he tells in conversation with Autosport. "I think, naturally, we all want something decided either way by the summer break, really. I think it's in everybody's best interests. But to be honest, I'm really not pushing the subject with anybody really - with Mercedes, with Williams. Because I am purely just focused on my job here." The young Briton also knows that he just has to keep performing at his current team, Williams.

"I know that, as I've always said, if I perform to my potential [that I] believe I'm capable of, you're putting yourself in the shop window," the Williams driver said. "I think that race in Bahrain gave me a unique opportunity to almost prove it. So, I'm really not pushing the subject. Just enjoying every single race, enjoying where I find myself."

Russel looks forward to working with Hamilton

Still, he does look at the choices of Hamilton and Bottas with an oblique eye. "But I think it's really exciting that Lewis has openly been talking about the next couple of years. And it's clear that he's still performing at an incredibly high level. I think it will be amazing for the sport, and for Mercedes, if he were to continue. And obviously, as any young driver, you want to go against the best. And Lewis is the best." However, Russell also knows that Mercedes has his best interests at heart.

"I mean, obviously, there's a lot of talk about a promotion to, or 'a move', I should say, to Mercedes. But I think for all of us at the end of the day – Mercedes do manage me, and they do want the best for my career. They are in a unique position, in that sense. But they just want the best for me. And if they believe I deserve the opportunity, then it'll be there. If they don't believe I deserve it, then they will find me a seat somewhere where I can continue to develop", Russell is sure.

But, he concludes, "But I feel like I'm ready to fight for world championships and fight for victories. I feel ready right now to be able to do that, let alone with another year under my belt by the end of this season. So, wherever I find myself next year, I want to be in a car that will give me the chance to win races." Russell's vision for the future is clear. The only question remaining is whether Lewis Hamilton decides to continue for another year and whether Mercedes wants to continue for another year with Bottas, whose performance so far in 2021 has been quite mediocre and inconsistent.