“Yes, I know where I’m going next year”

That’s enough! Just make the announcement!

That’s probably what most Formula 1 racing fans say today as the George Russell saga drags on. Will the 23-year-old Russell actually replace Valtteri Bottas at Mercedes and become a team-mate of seven-time champion Lewis Hamilton in 2022?

Or will Mercedes maintain the status quo and let Bottas stay with Mercedes as the # 2 driver for another year and keep Russell waiting in the starting blocks for the drive that almost everyone in sport believes will one day be?

George Russell

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On Thursday, Russell was asked in Zandvoort, the Netherlands, the location of the Dutch Grand Prix this weekend, if he knew where he would be racing in 2022. And similar to last week in Spa-Francorchamps, Belgium, when he was asked question, Russell stuck to the script again.

“I really have no news to announce,” said Russell. “Same position as last week at Spa.”

Okay, we get that. But do YOU ​​know where you will go next season?

“Yeah, I know where I’m going next year,” said Russell.

If Russell moves to Mercedes, as expected, he’ll know he’s in a different fishbowl than the one he plays in with the Backmarker-Williams team. He would also have the potential to overshadow even the great Lewis Hamilton and give Hamilton a different challenge than he has faced Bottas in recent seasons.

“I think there are of course a lot of hypotheses,” said Russell. “Nothing has been done yet and of course, as I have said several times over the past three years, I have great respect for Lewis and everything he has achieved. I saw him work incredibly hard with the engineers when I was there.” was. ” as a junior driver. He definitely doesn’t just rely on his immense natural talent. He tries everything to find the extra. Every driver wants the opportunity to compete with the best and learn from the best. And I think this would be an amazing opportunity to be there, but you know these are the same words I’ve said for the past three years.

Valtteri Bottas

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Then Russell stopped.

“Don’t take anything from me if I say this now because those are the same things I’ve said for the past three years. Lewis is the greatest of all time and it would be a huge chance to get the opportunity to be by his side to stand. ” and learn from him. “

So George, when did you find out what you’re not going to tell us?

“Verbally, before Spa,” he said after a longer pause than before the last question. “I’m not going to sit here and lie. There is nothing to say. I am aware of the situation where I will be racing next year and I was informed just before Spa.

Bottas stuck to the Mercedes PR script even better on Thursday when he was asked if he knew where he would be driving next year.

“Maybe I’ll do that, maybe not, just like at Spa,” said Bottas. “Things are going in the right direction, I’m happy and excited.”

“Things are going in the right direction, I’m happy and excited.”

That direction could be to become number 1 at Alfa Romeo next year. A trip there was opened on Wednesday with the announcement that 2007 Formula 1 champion Kimi Räikkönen is withdrawing from Formula 1 and will get out of his Alfa Romeo drive at the end of the season.

It’s possible Mercedes and Bottas wanted to make sure there was a landing spot for Bottas before making their own driver announcement. Then there are the contractual talks that are undoubtedly going on behind the scenes, be it between Mercedes and Bottas or Alfa Romeo and Bottas.

George Russell comes out of the first qualifying in the front row and the first podium. Success could not have come at a better time.

Dan Istitene – Formula 1Getty Images

Bottas’ desire for a longer contract is another indication that he is on the run with Mercedes, who seems ready to commit to Russell over the long term.

“A multi-year contract would be nice, I’ve never had anything like it in Formula 1,” said Bottas. “So I was definitely able to get fully involved in the team and know that the work will continue. It has to be a challenge, it has to be exciting, it has to be fun, in an atmosphere in which I would like to work.

“I think these are really the most important things I’m looking forward to. As I said, I still have a few more years in Formula 1. I definitely want to continue in Formula 1.”

If Bottas is looking for a challenge, he would definitely find one with an Alfa Romeo team that just leaves the Haas F1 team behind for ninth place in the F1 Constructors’ Championship.

Hamilton is doing his best to keep the Mercedes decision close to the vest, but it seemed at least to shed some light on the goofy season saga when asked about Russell. At least Hamilton was quick to dismiss Russell as his possible teammate for 2022.

“He’s the future, he’s one of the members of the future of the sport,” said Hamilton. “I think he has shown incredible driving so far and I am sure that he will continue to grow. So where could that be better than in a great team like this … or in which team, where to he goes?”

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