Williams Formula 1 team boss Jost Capito says he “would wish” that his star driver George Williams will get a 2022 Mercedes seat.
Russell is in the running for the second Mercedes seat alongside Lewis Hamilton, with Valtteri Bottas his only competition as the team mulls whether it wants to extend the Finn’s contract, or promote its junior driver.
Capito is backing Russell for the seat, which may come as a surprise given he is their star driver, but the German insists he would never hold a driver of Russell’s talent back.
“I would wish that George gets the seat because he is in the position now, in his terms of [his] career where he can handle being at an absolute top team and fighting for the championship.
“I would never hold a young driver back if he can have this kind of opportunity,” said Capito.
“So I hope, for him, that he gets this opportunity and from the team’s side, of course, we would very much love to keep him.”
No matter the decision, Capito says Russell has his and the Williams team’s support.
“If he goes to Mercedes, if he gets the offer, he gets the full support from us and if not, he gets the full support from us as well. So and that’s why, on our driver side, we can easily wait until that decision is taken. Whatever way it comes, we’ll be okay.”
Mercedes’ Toto Wolff has been quiet about the decision, insisting nothing has been decided yet, but recently said he would do his best to find Bottas a seat elsewhere if the decision went against the nine-time race winner, with rumours Bottas has spoken to both Alfa Romeo and Williams.
