Magazine: Is Russell Mercedes' next Formula 1 star?

That's one of the key questions we take on in the cover story of this week's Autosport magazine (27 August issue). Grand Prix Editor Alex Kalinauckas speaks to both Russell and Williams head of vehicle performance Dave Robson about the 22-year-old Briton's strengths and weaknesses, how Williams has improved, and the chances of Russell graduating to the multiple-championship-winning Silver Arrows squad.

Russell's links to Mercedes and test outings with the team have given him confidence to push for what he needs at Williams, and his fine performances - as well as his stellar career on his way to F1 - make him one of the leading candidates for when Valtteri Bottas leaves, or when Hamilton decides to retire.

The sale of Williams to Dorilton Capital has also given the legendary-but-troubled team a welcome boost, as Luke Smith's lead story in the magazine's Pit and Paddock section shows.

The other big news of the last week was Takuma Sato's second victory in the Indianapolis 500. IndyCar correspondent David Malsher-Lopez shows how Sato, with a little bit of luck, was able to defeat runaway championship leader and Indy pacesetter Scott Dixon, in our six-page report.

It was a packed weekend for UK motorsport and Autosport had reporters at the Oulton Park British Touring Car meeting, where Colin Turkington and Ash Sutton starred, the 750 Motor Club extravaganza at Silverstone, as well as the historic events at Brands Hatch and Mallory Park, and many more.

Thanks to the unpredictable weather, there were some shock results, not to mention some near misses, most notably tin-top legend Steve Soper suffering a huge accident at Brands when his Ford Mustang's throttle stuck open.

There are many more national stories, including Autosport racing a BMW with an ex-F1 driver and the return of a famous Special Saloon, in the latest edition of our National supplement, which comes free with the magazine.

It's also Autosport's 70th birthday this week and we mark that in the magazine by looking back at the publication's history and picking out some of the most significant covers from seven decades of motorsport.

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