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BAHRAIN, BAHRAIN – Second place qualifier George Russell of Great Britain and Mercedes GP looks on in parc ferme during qualifying ahead of the F1 Grand Prix of Sakhir at Bahrain International Circuit in Bahrain, Bahrain. (Photo by Dan Istitene – Formula 1/Formula 1 via Getty Images)
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BAHRAIN, BAHRAIN – Second place qualifier George Russell of Great Britain and Mercedes GP looks on in parc ferme during qualifying ahead of the F1 Grand Prix of Sakhir at Bahrain International Circuit in Bahrain, Bahrain. (Photo by Dan Istitene – Formula 1/Formula 1 via Getty Images)
Earlier this month, Kimi Raikkonen made his retirement announcement which consequently set off a chain reaction, with most of the action, so far, revolving around Mercedes AMG.
While Valtteri Bottas affirmed his move to Alfa Romeo from the dawn of 2022 on Monday, Mercedes have announced Finn’s successor on the very next day. And it is none other than Mr. Saturday, George Russell.
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George Russell is a Mercedes F1 driver from 2022
Facts.#F1 pic.twitter.com/TAvd6KurkQ
— Formula 1 (@F1) September 7, 2021
The 23-year-old has constantly remained on Mercedes’ radar ever since he almost pulled off a victory in Sakhir last season. Hence, this particular move hardly comes as a shock to the F1 community.
Nevertheless, what was a rumor until Monday is now official, and Russell will be lining up alongside the 7-time world champion, Lewis Hamilton for 2022 and beyond, setting up an all-British lineup for the first time since the Hamilton-Button combo in 2012.
Twitter reactions to the George Russell – Mercedes team-up
Twitter, undeniably, is the place to be when an announcement arrives regarding F1. There have been several reactions from the entire F1 fandom, comprising both positive and negative opinions about Russell’s move to Mercedes. So, let’s take a look at a few of the hand-picked tweets.
Thank you, George. Let's have a strong finish to the season 💪
— Williams Racing (@WilliamsRacing) September 7, 2021
Breaking News!
✍️ @GeorgeRussell63 will join @MercedesAMGF1 alongside @LewisHamilton from the 2022 F1 season! pic.twitter.com/yFdkfjW3k9— Mercedes-AMG Motorsport (@amgmotorsport) September 7, 2021
Possibly the worst kept secret in sport?
Proper chuffed for Russell though. Incredibly talented driver and will now be in a car able to show off his full potential. Exciting drives ahead. https://t.co/P1UAN0X5s4
— Mik Connor (@MikConnor_) September 7, 2021
F1 Twitter when George Russell to Merc gets announced at 10am pic.twitter.com/aTowKMKhyg
— breals 🏁 (@sophieebrearley) September 7, 2021
No surprise that Mercedes says George Russell has a "long-term contract."
Schumacher had three years, Bottas five, Rosberg seven, Hamilton nine and counting. Mercedes values longevity. #F1
— Phillip Horton (@PHortonF1) September 7, 2021
GEORGE RUSSELL 2022 WORLD CHAMPION pic.twitter.com/nd59pLBWvj
— ale⁷ (@vantestuan) September 7, 2021
I’ll say this much – A 23 year old who’s had ONE race outside of a car no better than 8th in the Championship just snagged one of the greatest seats in the history of the sport.
George Russell, the ultimate outlier. Go well, kid.
— Dre Harrison (@Harrison101HD) September 7, 2021
Any more announcements to come?
The answer is yes. Russell’s move has opened up a void in the Williams F1 team, and a couple of drivers are currently competing for the position. Alex Albon is the primary option here.
The Thai-Briton bowed out of F1 post-2020 citing a lack of drive at Red Bull, but it looks like his brief stay away from F1 could finally come to an end. The recent spotting of Red Bull’s boss, Christian Horner, with Jost Capito, proves that a potential Albon-Williams union is brewing in the paddock.
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NUERBURG, GERMANY – Alexander Albon of Thailand and Red Bull Racing and Red Bull Racing Team Principal Christian Horner talk in the garage during qualifying ahead of the F1 Eifel Grand Prix at Nuerburgring in Nuerburg, Germany. (Photo by Mark Thompson/Getty Images)
The only other contender for the seat is one-time Formula-E champion, Nyck de Vries. But, with Albon marching ahead in the talks, the Dutchman might well stick to Formula-E for the time being.
Overall, there are several things to look forward to in 2022, including Russell’s potential duel with Hamilton, Bottas returning to being the number 1 driver, and finally, Albon’s redemption. So, how incredible will the 2022 season shape up to be?
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