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Formula 1: George Russell to return to Williams in 2021

By Asher Fair

BUDAPEST, HUNGARY - JULY 16: George Russell of Great Britain and Williams talks in the Drivers Press Conference during previews for the F1 Grand Prix of Hungary at Hungaroring on July 16, 2020 in Budapest, Hungary. (Photo by Laurent Charniaux/Pool via Getty Images)
BUDAPEST, HUNGARY - JULY 16: George Russell of Great Britain and Williams talks in the Drivers Press Conference during previews for the F1 Grand Prix of Hungary at Hungaroring on July 16, 2020 in Budapest, Hungary. (Photo by Laurent Charniaux/Pool via Getty Images) /
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George Russell is set to return to Williams for a third year in the 2021 Formula 1 season despite speculation of a move to Mercedes.

Williams deputy team principal Claire Williams stated last year in what was George Russell’s rookie Formula 1 season that the two sides had an agreement that ran through the 2021 season and that Williams would not be releasing Russell before then.

This announcement came amid speculation that Russell, a Mercedes junior driver, could replace Valtteri Bottas at the works Mercedes team alongside Lewis Hamilton following the 2020 season.

Now after the first two races of the 2020 season, Russell has confirmed that he is slated to return to the Grove-based team next year, according to Formula 1.

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“I signed a three-year deal with Williams and I’ll be staying there for 2021, to build on last year and hopefully what this year turns out to be,” he said.

The 22-year-old Briton added that he was not disappointed that he will be unable to make the jump up to Mercedes next year.

“No, I’m not disappointed in Mercedes at all,” Russell stated. “There was nothing more they could do, Claire was firm with her decision that she was not willing, or not ready to let me go, and ultimately as I have a contract with Williams, I have to respect that decision. So I’m here, I’ll be giving everything I’ve got for Williams this year and into next year, and let’s see what that holds after that.”

Mercedes have yet to confirm their driver lineup for next year, with both Bottas and Hamilton out of contracts at the end of the 2020 season. This confirmation, however, makes it more likely that both drivers will return, a possibility that many saw as all but a certainty to begin with. As for the 2022 season, however, it is anybody’s guess what the Brackley-based team will do.

Russell has yet to score a point through 23 races in his Formula 1 career. His highest finish is his 11th place finish in last year’s German Grand Prix at the Hockenheimring.

However, he is an impressive 23-0 against his teammates in qualifying. He went 21-0 in his rookie season against Robert Kubica and is 2-0 against rookie Nicholas Latifi so far this year. Latifi has also confirmed that he is set to return to Williams in 2021.

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Russell will look to make it 24-0 in the qualifying session for this Sunday’s Hungarian Grand Prix. This session is set to be broadcast live on ESPN from the Hungaroring on Saturday, July 18 beginning at 8:55 a.m. ET, and the race itself is set to be broadcast live on ESPN the following morning beginning at 9:05 a.m. ET.

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