Williams and Mercedes junior driver George Russell will replace Lewis Hamilton at Mercedes for this weekend’s Sakhir Grand Prix after the seven-time F1 world champion contracted coronavirus.
Hamilton tested positive for a Covid-19 test on Monday, a day after winning the Bahrain Grand Prix, which forced him to withdraw from the race in Bahrain.
Williams have confirmed that FIA Formula 2 driver Jack Aitken will replace Russell for the weekend, as his former team-mate makes his Formula 1 debut.
‘I might be wearing a different race suit this weekend, but I’m a Williams driver and I’ll be cheering my team on every step of the way,’ said Russell.
‘I see this as a great chance to learn from the best outfit on the grid right now and to come back as an improved driver, with even more energy and experience to help push Williams further up the grid.
‘Obviously, nobody can replace Lewis, but I’ll give my all for the team in his absence from the moment I step in the car. Most importantly, I wish him a speedy recovery. I’m really looking forward to the opportunity and can’t wait to get out on track this week.’
The 22-year-old joined the Mercedes junior programme in 2017 after impressing throughout his GP3 season where he won the championship, before winning FIA Formula 2 just a year later in his rookie season.
Russell is highly rated by everyone on the F1 grid and is seen as a driver for the future within the Mercedes team.
The Brit has tested for Mercedes a number of times in the past but is yet to step inside the Mercedes W11.
This weekend – as well as potentially the season-closing race in Abu Dhabi – is a great opportunity for the team to get a direct comparison of Russell’s potential up against current Mercedes driver Valtteri Bottas.
Toto Wolff has played down expectations on Russell, as a lot of fans expect him to be battling at the sharp end of the field.
‘It will not be a straightforward task for George to make the transition from the Williams to the W11, but he is race-ready and has a detailed understanding of the 2020 tyres and how they perform on this generation of cars,’ said Wolff.
‘George has shown impressive form this year with Williams, playing an instrumental role in their climb up the grid, and I am optimistic that he will deliver a strong performance alongside Valtteri, who will be a demanding reference for him.
‘This race will mark a small milestone for us, as we see a member of our Junior programme compete for the works Mercedes team for the first time.’
By Cameron Anderson-Jones
