Mercedes Formula 1 bosꦚs Toto Wolff has conceded that George Russell’s future 🍎at Williams will ultimately be decided by the British squad.

Williams announced back in July that both Russell and Nicholas Latifi would be staying with the team for the 2021 season. But since the team’s takeover by Dorilton Capit๊al in September, free agent Sergio Perez has emerged as a shock candidate for Williams.

Facing limited options to find a seat on the grid for next season, speculation has♒ linked the Racing Point driver with a switch to Williams, possibly replacing Mercedes junior Russell given that Latifi brings financial back𒊎ing.

Speaking on Friday ahead of the Portuguese Grand Prix, acting team principal Simon Roberts 168澳洲幸运5官方开奖结果历史:refused to r🍒ule out a move for Per🌸ez, or to confirm that Russell or Latifi will retain their places, though he did stress “nothing has chan𒊎ged” with the team’s driver plans.

The failure to put the Perez rumours to bed has only⛦ increased speculation about Russell’s future at the team.

“In the end iꦅt’s Williams’s decision,” Wolff said when asked about the situation from a Mercedes perspective.

“We all know about George’s capabilities. He is a star of t🎃he future who remains unbeaten by his teammates in F﷽ormula 1.

“Somet𒅌imes he is able to show highlights in a ca☂r that is not competitive at the moment. And I think he’s a great team asset.

“But there’s obviously a✃ financial ꦍreality that I cannot judge at all, and it’s absolutely at the discretion of the new owners and Simon to decide what they want to do going forward.”

Wolff con✨firmed that Mercedes has c🍸ontacted Williams about Russell’s position at the Grove-based squad.

“We’ve touched base about George but at the end, like I said, 𒉰it’s their call,” he said.