Moments before the third practice session in Austria, Mercedes broke the news that Lewis Hamilton will drive with them for another two years. With this contract extension, the British driver’s association with the team will extend to 11 years.

The drivers on the grid took to social media to congratulate the seven-time world champion. This included George Russell, who hailed Hamilton as the GOAT.

“The (goat emoji) Great news for Mercedes and for F1,” wrote Lewis’ fellow countryman.

The announcement may not have come as a surprise to many. Mercedes is the team for Hamilton, and he is hungry for more. But with the talk of contracts and/or extensions at Mercedes, the spotlight may soon fall on the second seat.

Who will drive alongside Lewis Hamilton? – The unanswered question

While Hamilton’s current teammate Valtteri Bottas congratulated him on Twitter, a quick scroll through the comments only reflects what’s going through everyone’s minds: will we see Bottas next season? He has been a more than great teammate for Hamilton and he has also played a crucial role as the second driver. Speculations about his future with the team have been heard within the community. 

The whisper on the street has been about George Russell. Many believe that he will get his big break with Mercedes next year. This can be credited to his outstanding performance as a stand-in for Hamilton in Sakhir last season.  

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Read Also: Toto Wolff Explains Reason for Hamilton Mammoth TWO-YEAR Contract

If Mercedes is looking to go long-term, it would make sense for them to sign Russel. Because in the next two years while Hamilton holds down the team, Russell can get initiated into it. It’s also important to note that his contract with Williams terminates this year. 

Looking at Bottas, he has been having his worst season this year. He is currently fifth on the leaderboard, behind McLaren’s Lando Norris. But it’s hard not to feel for Valtteri. He has been robbed of positions this season-problems with strategy and pit stop came in the way. However, he has always brushed himself off and tried to come back stronger every weekend. Through no fault of his own, he’s just not as good as Lewis – few are. 

That being said, Toto Wolff is not a man of the heart. The team principal is sure to make a decision that is well thought of and practical. Now, with car number 44 confirmed, it’s only a matter of time before we find out who fills in another one of the Silver Arrows.

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