George Russell has revealed that he has been receiving phone calls and text messages from drivers enquiring about the vacant Mercedes Formula 1 seat for 2025.
Mercedes has begun the search for a replacement for Lewis Hamilton, who has made the bombshell decision to depart for Ferrari at the end of the upcoming season.
Red Bull drivers Max Verstappen and Sergio Perez have both suggested that it could be “awkward” for Hamilton and Mercedes in 2024 amid their impending separation.
However, like Mercedes Team Principal Toto Wolff, Russell insists that it has been business as usual in the team as it prepares for the record-breaking campaign ahead.
Asked whether the news had changed the dynamic within Mercedes, Russell replied: “So far it hasn’t changed at all really.
“I think everybody’s professional we’ve all got our job at hand and the engineers are just motivated on trying to deliver the fastest car possible and Lewis is still motivated to do the best job possible so within the team it seems like nothing has changed.”
Wolff has not been drawn on who will replace Hamilton at Mercedes, but he did tease that all options were on the table from a veteran competitor to an emerging star.
But the Mercedes boss asserted that he had complete confidence in Russell, who has been aligned with the German marque since 2017, to take on the mantle of team leader.
Embarking upon his sixth season in the sport, the Briton is convinced that he can step up to the plate and believes his time alongside Hamilton has prepared him well.
“It’s going to be an interesting few months to see what happens, but from my side, I’ve been team-mates with arguably the greatest driver of all time for the past two years and I’ve got no concerns at all,” he reasoned.
“Who lines up alongside me? I want to be tested against the very best and I feel that’s what I’ve had the last two years, whether it’s an experienced driver or a young driver.
“I feel that personally I’m in a great position to help push the team forward and going into this next chapter for the team.”
Pressed on how much input he would have, Russell replied: “I think for any team it’s important to have good harmony between the drivers because that trickles down into all of the engineers and the whole team.
“But ultimately the decisions with Toto and the board. We’ve already had a lot of conversations and I’ve been with Toto a lot this winter so seeing the drivers’ names pop up on the telephone has been quite funny, and even on my phone as well I’ve had a few phone calls and text messages, so it’s been quite interesting.
“But as a team we’re in a really good opportunity and position to go into this next chapter. It’s been so much success with Lewis and Mercedes and onto the next.”
With Verstappen tied down at Red Bull through 2028, Fernando Alonso remains the only World Champion on the current grid without a drive secured beyond this season.
Alonso has expressed that remaining with Aston Martin is his priority, but it’s possible that he could be persuaded to move if Mercedes represents a better chance of delivering him the third Drivers’ Championship that has evaded him thus far.
However, when the prospect of partnering Russell at Mercedes from 2025 was put to him, Alonso refused to comment and said his firm stance would remain unchanged.
“I already said last week when we launched the car about the future and I will not repeat every weekend because next week is gonna be the same question and I will be consistent with the answer,” the Spaniard declared.
Meanwhile, Alex Albon, who upholds a contract with Williams for next year, has also been touted as an option for Mercedes, but he also opted to dodge the speculation.
“I’ll just join Fernando there and just take the easy option out,” Albon added.
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