Former F1 driver Martin Brundle feels Silverstone would be the perfect venue to announce George Russell as a 2022 Mercedes driver, if the team are going to go for an all-British pairing. Lewis Hamilton recently signed a new deal to stay with Mercedes until the end of 2023 so the world champions attention can not turn to who will be his teammate. Russell has been widely mooted to leave Williams and join Mercedes. "It wouldn't surprise me if George got the drive next year alongside Lewis at Mercedes," Brundle told Sky Sports. "Whether it would be announced at Silverstone, if they're going to do it, why not? It would be the perfect place. "It's going to be a busy Silverstone. We have got the first of the sprint qualifying coming up. Qualifying Friday, sprint qualifying Saturday, race Sunday lots going on, massive crowd." Brundle thinks the timing of Russell replacing Valtteri Bottas would be right despite his high praise for the Finn who is competing in his fifth F1 season for Mercedes. "If you were running Mercedes-Benz you would look at it gong 'is Valtteri Bottas our man to win the championships when Lewis inevitably retires in two, three, four years into the future?" said Brundle. "You would have to think 'no'. I hate to say that. I really admire Valtteri. I think he's a great driver, does an amazing job up against the might of Lewis Hamilton. "But you can't honestly say if Lewis was not there that Valtteri would be dominating instead. I think Mercedes have to get a young gun in there that will emerge as their automatic new team leader sooner than later."
Most read
