On Tuesday morning, Mercedes finally announced Russell🐎 as Valtteri Bottas’ replacement. 

Russell has enjoyed a fine 2021 campaign for Williams, s𒐪coring the team’s first podium in over four ye💟ars at the Belgian Grand Prix.

Speaking of the announcement, Russell said: “It's a special day for me personally and professionall♉y, but also a day of mixed emotions. I'm excited and humbled to be joining Mercedes nex𒅌t year, which is a huge career step, but it also means I'll be saying goodbye to my teammates and friends at Williams. 

“It has been an honour working alongside every member of the team, and aඣn honour to represent the Williams name in F1. Since I joined in 2019, we have worked tirelessly to push each other forward and bring the team back up the grid where it belongs. We've battled for every qualifying position, every point, and every tenth of a second. 

“ꦓNo matter how tough it's been, nobody has ever given up, and that has inspired me every day. I've ౠloved every moment in what I'd describe as a true heart and soul racing team, and I'll be pushing harder than ever to make sure we end our story in the best possible way.”

Russell will go up against Hamilton - who is statistically F1’♌s greatest driver with seven titles and 99 victories to h♛is name.

The 23-year-old expects there to be a “steep learning curve” as he adapts to l🧸ife at༒ Mercedes.

“Looking ahead to next season, I'd be lying if I said I wasn't absolutely buzzing, Russell added. “It's a huge opportunity and one I want to grab with both hands. But I'm under no illusions as to the scale of the challenge; it's going to be a s🌌teep learning curve.

“Valtteri has set a high bar, consistently delivering week in and week out, scoring wins, pole positions and helping win multiple championship titles. My target must be to reward the trust that Toto, the team, and the board have placed in me by en꧙suring I play my part in continuing that success and I want t෴o do my new team-mates proud. Of course, one of those new teammates is in my opinion the greatest driver of all time. 

“I've looked up to Lewis since I was in go-karts and the opportunity to learn from someone who has become a role model both on and off-track can only benefit me as a driv🃏er, a professional, and a human being.”

Team boss Toto Wolff is confi🎃dent the Russell-Hamilton partnership will continue to br🔯ing even more success to the German manufacturer.

“Looking forward to 2022, we are very happy to cౠonfirm that George will have the opportunity to take the next step in his career and join Mercedes,” he said. “He has been a winner in every racing category - and the past three seasons with Williams have given us a taste of what the future could hold for him in F1. 

“Now, it is our challenge together to help him continue learning within our environment and alongside Lewis, the greatest F1 driver of all time. I am ꩲconfident that as their relationship grows, they will form a strong team and deliver for Mercedes on and off the track in the years ahead.”