George Russell says he does not have any desire as to who will take over as his staff mate at Mercedes as soon as Lewis Hamilton departs from Maranello on the finish of the season.
“I’d welcome anyone as my team-mate,” Russell mentioned this week. “I really feel like I’ve received a reasonably good team-mate proper now as it’s, so yeah – I’d welcome anyone.”
F2 driver Andrea Kimi Antonelli is at present sizzling favorite to take the second seat at Brackley subsequent yr after finishing what had been described as a ‘shootout’ check with Mercedes reserve driver Mick Schumacher.
“I feel Kimi is a implausible driver,” Russell mentioned. “Clearly racing in Formulation 2 this yr, however he’s little question going to be a Formulation 1 driver sooner or later,” Russell acknowledged.
“He’s a fellow junior driver as nicely, coming by the ranks as I did with the staff, so I feel it makes for an awesome alternative for Mercedes constructing into the longer term.
One other title being floated across the paddock is Max Verstappen, if he could be lured away from Pink Bull.
“I would not draw back from leaping alongside Max, nor would I draw back from him leaping in with us,” Russell informed the British Each day Mail newspaper this week.
“I had the most important problem of becoming a member of Mercedes in opposition to [Hamilton in 2022], the best driver of all time statistically in qualifying and within the race, and I carried out in opposition to him. That is all I can do.”
However whoever takes the spot, Russell’s goal stays the identical. “My job is to beat my teammate and get essentially the most out of the automobile,” he mentioned. “I’m a loyal man and Mercedes have given me the chance, however I wish to be a world champion.
“What provides me hope is that Max was in his seventh season when he fought for a title and I’m in my sixth,” he mentioned. “I’m 26, and Fernando Alonso is 43: seeing him carry out as he’s, I see no purpose why I can’t go into my forties.
“I do know my time will come, I’m not apprehensive in any respect,” he insisted. “I’ve to maintain working laborious and never lose motivation since you don’t know when that probability will come.
He added a change within the Mercedes line-up line-up may show to be the enhance Mercedes wants to beat its present droop. “It is good Lewis is leaving us now relatively than in 2021, when it could have been tough for the entire staff,”
“It’s a contemporary begin for the staff. So many individuals right here have shared success with Lewis, however change typically ignites a brand new spark for everybody,” he mentioned. “It does that for Lewis [moving to Ferrari], and it sparks that for us right here subsequent yr.
“You must adapt and evolve, and we’re in that technique of constructing from the bottom up,” he added. “A yr in the past McLaren have been the slowest staff and now they’re the quickest.”
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