Looking outside of Mercedes for 2022 F1 seat ‘hasn’t crossed my mind’ - Russell

George Russell says the thought of looking outside of Mercedes if he doesn’t gain promotion for the 2022 Formula 1 season “hasn’t even crossed my mind”.

The 23-year-old Briton joined Williams on a three-year deal in 2019 which expires at the end of the year, coinciding with the end of Lewis Hamilton and Valtteri Bottas’ respective deals.

Mercedes is set to prioritise talks with Hamilton and Bottas as it looks to finalise its 2022 driver line-up before the end of the campaign but it also has the option to promote its junior Russell.

Asked if he would consider looking outside of Mercedes if no promotion comes in 2022, Russell replied: “Mercedes have been loyal to me since day one, so that isn’t even crossing my mind at the moment.

“They have their faith in me, I have my faith in them. Time will tell. It’s been clear since day one since 2016 when I signed for Mercedes, to do the job on the track and the opportunities would come. That’s been the case through GP3, F2, and then with my career in F1.

“Obviously we signed the three year deal back in 2018. Let’s wait and see. But at the moment, that thought hasn’t even crossed my mind.”

Russell also moved to rubbish a suggestion he was no longer on speaking terms with Hamilton after deputising for his compatriot in last year’s Sakhir Grand Prix when the seven-time world champion tested positive for COVID-19.

The Briton came agonisingly close to claiming a fairytale maiden win on his debut outing for Mercedes in Sakhir and revealed Hamilton had not been in touch following the race, prompting rumours of a rift between the pair.

But Russell insisted his relationship with Hamilton remains unchanged.

“I think the question towards me was ‘Did you speak to Lewis after Bahrain?, and no we didn’t speak, as we wouldn’t speak after any other race.

"We’re racing each other, if we would see each other in the paddock we would speak. We’ve seen each other this year, a little fist bump along the way, and that’s been the same since 2019, last year before the Bahrain Grand Prix.

“My relationship with Lewis is the same as a lot of the other drivers up and down the paddock which is completely fine. There are no hard feelings, no issues between myself and Lewis.”