Mercedes Sign British Junior Russell

Mercedes have signed British teenager George Russell to their junior driving programme.

The 18-year-old, who will compete in GP3 this year with ART Grand Prix, joins as the team’s third junior driver, with Pascal Wehrlein and Esteban Ocon already in Formula 1.

Russell was a title-winner in his first season of racing in the BRDC Formula 4 Championship in 2014 and received the McLaren Autosport BRDC Award in that same year.

He has followed that up with two strong seasons in the European Formula 3 Championship, finishing sixth with Carlin in 2015 and then third with Mercedes-powered Hitech GP last season.

“George has shown impressive form in the junior categories and we’ve been keeping a close eye on him for a while now,” said Mercedes boss Toto Wolff. “It’s still early days in his career but we see great potential in him.”

Russell will now look to follow in Ocon and newly announced Mercedes driver Valtteri Bottas’ footsteps in GP3, both of whom having won that title on their way to F1.

“We have already seen with Esteban how effective this series can be as a training ground,” continued Wolff. “And, of course, this is the championship which propelled Valtteri into Formula 1.

“So we will follow George’s progress with great interest.”

Russell competed in the same Formula 3 season as F1 and Williams rookie Lance Stroll last year and was the leading driver outside of the Canadian’s Prema Powerteam stable.

“It is an incredibly opportunity to have the backing of the world champions,” said Russell, who finished fifth in the 2016 Macau Grand Prix. “I’m proud to have been given this kind of recognition for all the hard work that’s gone into my career over the years so far.

“This opportunity is a huge motivation and I’m looking forward to the challenge.”