RUSSELL SET FOR MERCEDES TEST

Williams Grand Prix Engineering driver George Russell will jump back behind the wheel of a Mercedes later on today as he takes part in a post-race tyre test in Hungary.

The popular Englishman will test a Mercedes fitted with the 2022-spec-18-inch tyres that will be used in the championship next year.

It’s not the first test that Russell will complete for the Mercedes F1 team during his active F1 career, having also completed tests in Bahrain and Abu Dhabi for the Silver Arrows back in 2019.

Prior to that, his first-ever F1 test was in a Mercedes W08 at the Hungaroring back in 2017.

Of course, Russell famously raced for the team when Lewis Hamilton tested positive to COVID-19.

The 23-year-old led for much of the race after overtaking polesitter Valtteri Bottas at the start of the race and continued to lead for much of the encounter.

A tyre mix-up late in the race saw Russell fitted with a couple of Bottas’ tyres which forced the Briton to make an unscheduled stop, before a puncture late in the race cost him the shot at the victory.

Today’s test is bound to be viewed with keen interest, as Mercedes are currently weighing up whether to promote Russell into their team, or keep Bottas on for a sixth season.

Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff has openly said that a decision would likely be taken over the summer break.

The test comes just two days after Russell emotionally scored his first ever points for Williams with an eighth-place finish in the Hungarian Grand Prix.

The points lifted Williams to eighth in the Constructors’ Standings ahead of Alfa Romeo.

Russell won’t be alone at the test with Ferrari and McLaren also set to run at Budapest.

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