Formula 1: 5 possible Mercedes drivers for 2021

Possible 2021 Mercedes drivers: #4 – George Russell

Here’s where things could get interesting. While he competes for Williams and is set to be back for a third season with the team in 2021, George Russell is a Mercedes driver, and it is clear that the plan for him is to be promoted to the Silver Arrows whenever Lewis Hamilton or Valtteri Bottas is no longer with the team.

Russell has been confirmed by Williams for next year, and multiple times. But here’s why that could still change.

Deputy team principal Claire Williams stated last year that Russell would not be able to move to Mercedes until 2022 at the earliest. But Williams have now been sold and are owned by Dorilton Capital.

Amid rumors that the Grove-based team were willing to let him go in favor of a pay driver such as Sergio Perez or Nikita Mazepin after the 2020 season as a result of their keenness to gain more financial backing, the team announced that they would not be cutting him and that his role was safe.

But if Hamilton were to leave Mercedes after 2020, could this change?

Don’t rule it out. It obviously wouldn’t change in terms of Russell getting shafted like the false rumors surrounding Dorilton Capital’s financial wishes suggested, but it’s not out of the question because of how many different parties it would help — and, of course, Mercedes have a few strings at their disposal which they could pull, given Russell’s ties to them.

It would be a win-win-win-win. Russell would be promoted to Mercedes, Mercedes would have Hamilton’s replacement with a veteran in Bottas alongside him, Williams would get their money from another driver and that other driver would have a ride he otherwise wouldn’t have.