Russell: "Unprofessional" to start thinking about Mercedes F1 move
Williams Formula 1 driver George Russell says he remains focused on helping his team secure eighth in the championship and it would be "unprofessional" to start thinking about his Mercedes move.
After being loaned out by Mercedes to Williams for three seasons Russell will finally move up to the Brackley outfit in 2022, replacing Valtteri Bottas as Lewis Hamilton's team-mate at the works team.
Ever since the deal was announced in September, Russell has received plenty of questions on his impending move, but the Briton says it would be "unprofessional" to be thinking ahead already, while his current team is still embroiled in a tense scrap over eighth place in this year's constructors' championship.
"Obviously, I get asked a lot of questions regarding the Mercedes move next year, but I think it is unprofessional if I start thinking ahead too quick or too early," Russell said when asked if his Mercedes move was already on his mind.
"I am giving as much effort into this season and the remaining races as I ever have."
After trailing Alfa Romeo for the first half of the season, Williams jumped clear by virtue of a double top-eight finish for Russell and team-mate Nicholas Latifi in Hungary.
George Russell, Williams FW43B, Kimi Raikkonen, Alfa Romeo Racing C41
Photo by: Mark Sutton / Motorsport Images
That breakthrough weekend was followed after the summer break by Russell's maiden podium in a rained out Belgian Grand Prix, in which only half points were awarded and Russell scored nine points, Williams bagging a massive 20-point haul in two consecutive races.
But thanks to two eighth places for Kimi Raikkonen in Russia and Mexico, Alfa has brought the gap down to 12 points, trailing 23 to 11, meaning the fight with Williams is wide open again with four grands prix left to run in the 2021 season.
"I want to make sure that we seal this P8 in the championship but obviously Alfa picked up four more points now," Russell added after leading home Latifi in a distant 16th place in Mexico, the pair finishing outside the points for a third consecutive race.
"I don’t know what happened to Antonio [Giovinazzi] as they were both in the points at one point. So that is our goal now, to try to score some more points and try to stop them scoring points."
Related video
F1 to stop bodyguards joining grid after Megan Thee Stallion incident
The errors Verstappen isn't making when it matters in F1 2021
Why new era F1 is still dogged by its old world problems
OPINION: The 2022 Formula 1 season is just weeks away from getting underway. But instead of focusing on what is to come, the attention still remains on what has been – not least the Abu Dhabi title decider controversy. That, plus other key talking points, must be resolved to allow the series to warmly welcome in its new era
The Schumacher trait that will give Haas hope in F1 2022
Mick Schumacher’s knack of improving during his second season in a championship was a trademark of his junior formula career, so his progress during his rookie Formula 1 campaign with Haas was encouraging. His target now will be to turn that improvement into results as the team hopes to reap the rewards of sacrificing development in 2021
The “glorified taxi” driver central to F1’s continued safety push
As the driver of Formula 1’s medical car, Alan van der Merwe’s job is to wait – and hope his skills aren’t needed. JAMES NEWBOLD hears from F1’s lesser-known stalwarts
When BMW added F1 'rocket fuel' to ignite Brabham's 1983 title push
There was an ace up the sleeve during the 1983 F1 title-winning season of Nelson Piquet and Brabham. It made a frontrunning car invincible for the last three races to see off Renault's Alain Prost and secure the combination's second world title in three years
How “abysmal” reliability blunted Brabham’s first winner
Brabham’s first world championship race-winning car was held back by unreliable Climax engines – or so its creators believed, as STUART CODLING explains
The steps Norris took to reach a new level in F1 2021
Lando Norris came of age as a grand prix driver in 2021. McLaren’s young ace is no longer an apprentice or a quietly capable number two – he’s proved himself a potential winner in the top flight and, as STUART CODLING finds out, he’s ready to stake his claim to greatness…
The original F1 maestro who set the bar for Schumacher and Hamilton
Juan Manuel Fangio, peerless on track and charming off it, established the gold standard of grand prix greatness. NIGEL ROEBUCK recalls a remarkable champion
How Russell sees his place in the Mercedes-Hamilton F1 superteam
George Russell joining Lewis Hamilton at Mercedes this year gives it arguably the best line-up in Formula 1 – if it can avoid too many fireworks. After serving his apprenticeship at Williams, Russell is the man that Mercedes team believes can lead it in the post-Hamilton era, but how will he fare against the seven-time champion? Autosport heard from the man himself