While George Russell declares there are “no promises” from Toto Wolff for him to be signed as Hamilton’s team mate for 2022 and beyond, we do believe its all done and decided.
George Russell’s performances have been impressive and he knows already (but he’s been told not to say anything yet) that he will drive for AMG-Mercedes in the coming years. He is after all, in his third of a ten-year contract with the Stuttgart firm and its team principal, and it’s time for him to move up.
Why has it not been announced yet? Well Toto Wolff, doesn’t want to announce it as long as he didn’t find a decent drive for Valtteri Bottas, a driver he appreciates and also manages since many years. Logically, he fears that Bottas without a 2022 drive, would be destabilised and that could harm Lewis Hamilton and the team’s quest for the Drivers’ and Constructors’ 2021 World Titles.
Where will Bottas then go? Most probably to Alfa Romeo, where team principal Fred Vasseur is keen to have a driver of his caliber. Let’s wait and see, announcements are expected for Spa after the summer break or the latest at Monza mid-September.
