Russell: Mercedes promotion timing was perfect

George Russell now believes his promotion to a Mercedes race seat actually came at exactly the right time.

Russell has been competing in Formula 1 since 2019, spending the first three seasons of his career with Williams, backed by Mercedes as a part of their junior programme.

Despite rarely having the machinery to fight at the business end of the midfield Russell regularly impressed, collecting 16 points in 2021, a season that included two top-three qualifying displays, with his P2 on the grid in Belgium becoming a first podium finish after the race proved to be a washout.

His displays were enough to convince Mercedes he was ready to join their 2022 line-up, in which he will partner seven-time former World Champion Lewis Hamilton.

Previously, Russell stated he had perhaps spent one season too many at Williams. But on reflection, now he thinks 2022 is the perfect starting point to his Mercedes stint since sweeping new regulations have come into play.

“I wanted to get a seat at Mercedes as soon as possible, but in retrospect I have to say the timing is perfect,” he is quoted as having said by Motorsport-Total.com.

“A change doesn’t have to be negative. Of course, you always want to have consistency over the years, but I think this year is the best possible year to change teams because everyone starts from scratch.”

Of course, it is not like Russell is new to the Mercedes set-up anyway.

Over the years, he has had several testing opportunities with the team, while at the 2020 Sakhir Grand Prix he replaced the ill Hamilton, qualifying P2 and looking a strong bet for a win before a Mercedes blunder in the pits and later a puncture.

“It doesn’t feel like a transition phase but rather like I’ve been here for years. I feel at