Russell to test for Mercedes in Hungary

Jamie Woodhouse
George Russell Mercedes W11

George Russell to test for Mercedes in Hungary.

George Russell will be back behind the wheel of a Mercedes when he tests the 18-inch tyres at the Hungaroring.

As part of the new regulations for 2022, the current generation of cars will make way for a replacement which will be designed to make it easier for drivers to follow each other, and so theoretically this should lead to more overtaking.

These new challengers will also see an upgrade in the tyre department, with the current 13-inch specs making way for new 18-inch rubber.

Formula 1’s tyre supplier Pirelli have been hard at work throughout the 2021 campaign testing these prototype tyres, and on Tuesday August 3, it will be Mercedes’ turn to provide some crucial data.

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It will not be Lewis Hamilton or Valtteri Bottas behind the wheel of the W12 though, instead Mercedes’ junior driver Russell will return to action with the team.

The Briton has enjoyed testing outings in the past with Mercedes, and made his competitive debut with the team back at the 2020 Sakhir Grand Prix, standing in for Hamilton who could not take part after testing positive for Covid.

August 3 will be the only day of action for Russell and Mercedes, while Sauber junior and Formula 2 racer Theo Pourchaire has been confirmed as Alfa Romeo’s representative for the 18-inch tyre test on August 3 and 4.

It will mark a quick return for Russell to the track where only a few days prior he collected his first points as a Williams driver, crossing the line P9.

With team-mate Nicholas Latifi finishing P8, it marked a double-points finish for Williams, lifting them to P8 in the Constructors’ Championship.

Russell was moved to tears after his first top-10 finish in Williams colours.

However, they were not his first points as a Formula 1 driver, with the Briton having finished P9 back at the 2020 Sakhir GP, the last time he appeared in Mercedes colours.

The 23-year-old was actually unfortunate not to have won that race, with a major error in the pits and later a puncture taking away that opportunity.

Hopefully this Pirelli test will provide happier memories for the Briton inside the Mercedes cockpit.

Meanwhile, McLaren has also announced their Pirelli tests plans, with Lando Norris and Daniel Ricciardo splitting duties on Tuesday and Wednesday respectively.