Russell set to test for Mercedes and Force India F1 teams in 2018
Mercedes protege George Russell is set to test for two Formula 1 teams this season alongside his Formula 2 championship challenge

The reigning GP3 champion, who made his grand prix weekend debut with the Force India team last year, is sharing Mercedes' F1 reserve driver responsibilities with Pascal Wehrlein in 2018.
Force India announced Nicholas Latifi as its third driver for this season and also has GP3 driver Nikita Mazepin on its books as a development driver.
Russell is expected to test for Mercedes this season but is also set to resume his relationship with its customer team, which started with free practice outings in Brazil and Abu Dhabi last season.
Autosport understands this could include some more Force India free practice running, while the young driver tests at Barcelona (May 15-16) or Budapest (July 31-August 1) and Pirelli tyre tests are options for Russell to get on-track mileage in Mercedes' W09.
Force India chief operating officer Otmar Szafnauer told Autosport that Russell "will still do some work for us", and said he and Latifi would be drafted in for "simulator work at the beginning, and then we'll try throughout the year and get them both on track".
Force India has a history of running Mercedes juniors, with Esteban Ocon's first test for the team back in 2015 sowing the seeds for his current race seat.
Russell told Autosport that testing for Mercedes was "on the cards, and on top of that I would love to get behind the wheel of a Force India again".
He called Force India "a great place [where] I can start my F1 career" after impressing in his free practice runs last year.
"There's no reason we shouldn't continue to build on that relationship throughout this season," the 2014 McLaren Autosport BRDC Award winner said.
"Mercedes are fully behind me with that thought, but we are both on the same page in saying that Formula 2 is my main priority and focus.
"It's very easy in my position to get caught up in the F1 dream and forgetting about going out and winning F2."
Ocon is a contender for a works Mercedes drive for 2019 should it opt to not re-sign Valtteri Bottas alongside Lewis Hamilton's expected contract renewal.
Russell is confident that success with ART Grand Prix in F2 this year, combined with impressing Mercedes and Force India with whatever simulator and on-track opportunities he is given, will result in a graduation to F1 in 2019.

"Force India is the place that I'm looking towards for next season," he said.
"We're continuing a relationship this year and there's no reason why that shouldn't expand into a full-time seat next year.
"The great thing with Mercedes is they give the young drivers an opportunity if they deserve it.
"If I perform this season in F2 and Mercedes believe I've done a good enough job to justify an F1 seat, they will find a seat for me."

Previous article
McLaren reserve Norris: Giving team driver headache 'would be nice'
Next article
Autosport quiz: Test your knowledge on ex-Formula 1 circuits

About this article
Series | Formula 1 |
Drivers | George Russell |
Teams | Mercedes , Force India |
Author | Scott Mitchell |
Russell set to test for Mercedes and Force India F1 teams in 2018
Trending
Albert Park Circuit Modifications Project
Mercedes-AMG F1 Team: Bahrain GP Race Debrief
The diva that stole a march on F1’s wide-bodied opposition
In 2017 new F1 technical regulations were supposed to add drama - and peg Mercedes back. STUART CODLING looks at the car which, while troubled, set the stage for the wide-bodied Formula 1 era
The themes to watch in F1’s Imola return
Three weeks is a long time in Formula 1, but in the reshaped start to the 2021 season the teams head to Imola to pick things up after the frenetic Bahrain opener. Here's what to look out for and the developments to follow at the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix
The 'new' F1 drivers who need to improve at Imola
After a pandemic-hit winter of seat-swapping, F1 kicked off its season with several new faces in town, other drivers adapting to new environments, and one making a much-anticipated comeback. BEN ANDERSON looks at who made the most of their opportunity and who needs to try harder…
The delay that quashed Aston Martin’s last F1 venture
Aston Martin’s only previous foray into Formula 1 in the late 1950s was a short-lived and unsuccessful affair. But it could have been so different, says NIGEL ROEBUCK
Verstappen exclusive: Why lack of car-racing titles won't hurt Red Bull's ace
Max Verstappen’s star quality in Formula 1 is clear. Now equipped with a Red Bull car that is, right now, the world title favourite and the experience to support his talent, could 2021 be the Dutchman’s year to topple the dominant force of Lewis Hamilton and Mercedes?
Are we at peak F1 right now?
For many, many years Formula 1 has strived to do and to be better on all fronts. With close competition, a growing fanbase, a stable political landscape and rules in place to encourage sustainability, 2021 is on course to provide an unexpected peak
How crucial marginal calls will decide the Red Bull vs Mercedes battle in F1 2021
The longer Red Bull can maintain a performance edge over Mercedes, the better the odds will be in the team’s favour against the defending world champions. But as the Bahrain Grand Prix showed, many more factors will be critical in the outcome of the 2021 Formula 1 World Championship
How Williams’ new structure adheres to a growing F1 trend
Williams held out against the tide for many years but, as MARK GALLAGHER explains, the age of the owner-manager is long gone