Wolff: Hamilton-Russell pairing would be 'wild ride', but could happen

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Toto Wolff admits that a Hamilton-Russell line-up at Mercedes could lead to a "wild ride" for Mercedes, but it's one the Austrian isn't completely dismissing in the future.

Russell's phenomenal Sakhir GP weekend has clearly validated the young stand-in's talent, but the performance also positions the Mercedes protégé as Hamilton's natural successor.

The seven-time world champion is expected to extend his contract with Mercedes although the duration of his new deal is uncertain.

Wolff has dismissed replacing Bottas with Russell for 2021, but all options are on the table thereafter for the German outfit.

Read also: Hamilton return complicated by Abu Dhabi red tape

"He's a Williams driver, he signed up to Williams and our driver line-up [for 2021] is Valtteri and Lewis," Wolff said. "So I don't see this as a realistic situation at that moment of time.

"But I can understand that it would be an interesting situation to have both in the team and maybe a bit of a wild ride for all of us. Maybe that will happen in the future.

"George has always been a Mercedes driver, and he’s a Williams driver now, and I think they can be proud of what he’s done today," added the Austrian.

"They will know that his lap times in a Williams are probably the benchmark.

"Now we need to see what the future holds. To be honest, I haven’t made up my mind what that means for us."

Russell logically felt defeated after being robbed of an almost certain win in Sakhir, but Wolff insisted that Sunday's race was not the young star's "last attempt to win a race".

"At the moment we have a fixed driver line-up, which we have planned with," Wolff told Sky Germany.

"But you never know. The black swan always swims by when you least believe it. But sooner or later he will be in this car."

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Phillip van Osten

Motor racing was a backdrop from the outset in Phillip van Osten's life. Born in Southern California, Phillip grew up with the sights and sounds of fast cars thanks to his father, Dick van Osten, an editor and writer for Auto Speed and Sport and Motor Trend. Phillip's passion for racing grew even more when his family moved to Europe and he became acquainted with the extraordinary world of Grand Prix racing. He was an early contributor to the monthly French F1i Magazine, often providing a historic or business perspective on Formula 1's affairs. In 2012, he co-authored along with fellow journalist Pierre Van Vliet the English-language adaptation of a limited edition book devoted to the great Belgian driver Jacky Ickx. He also authored "The American Legacy in Formula 1", a book which recounts the trials and tribulations of American drivers in Grand Prix racing. Phillip is also a commentator for Belgian broadcaster Be.TV for the US Indycar series.