Formula 1: Will George Russell drive for Mercedes in the 2019 season?

By Asher Fair | May 4, 2018

SAO PAULO, BRAZIL - NOVEMBER 09: George Russell of Great Britain and Force India in the Paddock during previews for the Formula One Grand Prix of Brazil at Autodromo Jose Carlos Pace on November 9, 2017 in Sao Paulo, Brazil. (Photo by Clive Mason/Getty Images) /

Will Mercedes-AMG Petronas Motorsport junior driver George Russell potentially end up driving for the team in the 2019 Formula 1 season?

Ever since 28-year-old Valtteri Bottas signed a one-year deal to remain with Mercedes-AMG Petronas Motorsport through the 2018 Formula 1 season in the summer of his first season driving for the team last year, there has been speculation that he could be on his way out following the conclusion of the 2018 season if he does not perform at a high level.

As a result of this speculation, there has been speculation in regard to which drivers could potentially replace him if Mercedes do indeed replace him in the 2019 season.

One potential replacement candidate whose name has been brought up is 20-year-old George Russell. Russell drives for ART Grand Prix in Formula 2, and he is part of Mercedes-AMG Petronas Motorsport’s junior driver program.

Last season, Russell test drove in Formula 1 for Mercedes and Sahara Force India, which is one of the other two Mercedes-powered Formula 1 teams. However, making the jump from a Formula 2 driver with no actual Formula 1 race experience to a full-time driver for Mercedes, the top team in Formula 1, may be a bit of a stretch for the 20-year-old in the 2019 season.

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If Russell does end up driving in Formula 1 in the 2019 season, which isn’t a sure thing as it is, it would likely not be for Mercedes. It would likely end up being for Force India, as the team’s current two drivers, Esteban Ocon and Sergio Perez, are legitimate replacement candidates for Bottas at Mercedes and Kimi Raikkonen at Scuderia Ferrari, respectively, next season.

That said, if Daniel Ricciardo ends up replacing Bottas at Mercedes and Charles Leclerc ends up replacing Kimi Raikkonen at Ferrari, then Force India’s lineup would likely remain the same, in which case Russell would likely not be a full-time driver at all in the 2019 season.

But for Russell to drive for Mercedes as Bottas’ replacement in the 2019 season, many things would need to happen. First of all, Mercedes would need to release Bottas, which isn’t a sure thing at this point despite the fact that many people think it will happen.

Also, Ricciardo would have to either stay with Red Bull Racing or replace Raikkonen at Ferrari, in which case Leclerc would likely be stuck at Sauber, another Ferrari-powered team, or replace either Romain Grosjean or Kevin Magnussen at Haas, another Ferrari-powered team.

Finally, Ocon would need to have a less than stellar season driving for Force India to the point where Mercedes believe that Russell is a better replacement candidate that Ocon is, which also isn’t likely given the fact that this is Ocon’s second full-time Formula 1 season and he has already had a solid amount of success. Meanwhile, Russell’s only Formula 1 experience is as a test driver.

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Do you believe that George Russell will replace Valtteri Bottas at Mercedes-AMG Petronas Motorsport in the 2019 Formula 1 season, or do you think another replacement candidate such as Daniel Ricciardo or Esteban Ocon will do so? Do you think that Mercedes will retain Bottas once again? This will certainly be an interesting situation to monitor.

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