Russell denies Mercedes deal will be announced at British GP

George Russell says Mercedes won't take the opportunity at this weekend's British Grand Prix to announce his move to the Brackley squad for 2022 as "nothing has been signed" yet by the Briton.

Since last week, speculation had increased that Mercedes would confirm its 2022 line-up at Silverstone, with Russell replacing Valtteri Bottas alongside Lewis Hamilton who recently extended his contract with the championship winning team until the end of 2023.

But the rumor will remain in the grapevine for the foreseeable future according to Russell.

"I signed with Mercedes five or six years ago now, that's 100% true," said Russell on the latest episode of the F1 Nation podcast.

"As everybody knows, they look after me. But with regards to my drive for next year, nothing has been signed or sealed, and nothing will be announced in Silverstone. So I can let you know that."

As a Mercedes protégé and as one of F1's most talented young drivers, Russell appears as a logical choice for Mercedes, especially in light of his one-off performance with the team at last year's Sakhir Grand Prix when he replaced Hamilton, but also considering Bottas' disappointing results with the German outfit year-to-date.

Russell nearly scored his first top-ten finish with Williams last time out in Austria where the 23-year-old was denied a point by a late charge by Alpine's Fernando Alonso.

• Read also - Marko: Russell 'worth considering' if Mercedes let him go

But Williams' steady improvement this year might well offer its star driver another shot this season at crossing the checkered flag among the top-ten.
"Obviously the team have finished last for the past three years in a row, [but] I'm pretty confident that will not be the case next year," Russell said.

"Things are really making a turn for the better. Things are really getting in line and in place. Jost [Capito] is doing a fantastic job building that structure for everybody to be more efficient, more streamlined, and every single decision that has been made so far I think has been a good one for the right reasons.

"I see no reason why over the course of the next couple of years that Williams can't fight their way back to the front.

"That might sound silly or stupid now, but you've only got to look back at 2013 when Valtteri and Maldonado were in the car. They finished ninth or 10th in the constructors, and came out the following year and finished third, podiums at most races, pole positions.

"This sport can change in a heartbeat when you've got this big regulation change. Fingers crossed for Williams it changes for the better."

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