F1 News
Possible Russell departure big loss for Williams: "He is so fast"
- GPblog.com
The situation concerning George Russell is, just like previous years, a point of discussion. When will Russell actually leave Williams to take his seat at Mercedes? This is only possible if Lewis Hamilton quits or Mercedes says goodbye to Valtteri Bottas. The latter seems, given the Finn's current form, the most realistic scenario.
It would of course be a great loss for Williams, even though the British racing team will have factored in his departure by now. Dave Robson, head vehicle performance at Williams, said in conversation with Motorsport.com that working with the young Briton is a pleasure. "From the first moment we evaluated him, it has been fantastic to work with him. It was clear he had something in him, an exceptional talent to drive the car."
Russell's departure 'big loss' for Williams
Yet Robson also knows that there is a good chance he will leave Williams after this season. He has not given up hope on a longer stay for Russell and desperately wants him to remain at the team. Yet he knows that Williams are not the ones pulling the strings.
"It's been a great time. At times it's probably been frustrating, but it's been a great journey we've been on with him. Obviously it would be a big loss, he's really quick. When he talks people listen, which is important - provided it's about the right things. It would be a huge loss, but I don't know if I have much control over that. If we can keep him, that would be fantastic, but we have to see how it all plays out."
However, there is a growing chance that Russell could be found in a Mercedes seat from 2022 onwards. Russell previously said he would like to have clarity on his future before or during the summer break. We'll see if he gets his way in the coming months.