George Russell saw F1 driver names pop up on Toto Wolff’s phone for 2025 seat
F1 drivers have been asking Toto Wolff about Mercedes' 2025 vꦚacant seat, says George Russell

George Russell has seen the names of F1 drivers who have contracted Toto Wolff about🍰 coming to Mercedes next year.
Team principal Wolff is f👍ace𓆉d with the colossal decision of how to replace seven-time F1 champion Lewis Hamilton.
Hamilton will race for one final season with Mercedes before going to Ferrari next♏ year, crea♍ting a coveted vacancy alongside Russell.
Russell said abꦇout his future teammate: “[Wolff and I] already had conversations.
“I’ve been with Toto a lot this winte🐠r. Seeing the drivers’ names pop up on the telephon෴es was quite funny.
“Even on my phone, as well, the phone▨ calls and text messages…
“So yeah it’s been quite interesting.
“But, as a team, we’re in a really good opportunity and pos﷽ition to go into thi𒁏s next chapter.
“There’s been so much succ𝓰ess with Lewis a🐼nd Mercedes.”
Options range from the two-time F1 champion Fernando Alonso -🌱 who refused to comment this week in Bahrain when asked about going to Mercedes - to ꧑teenage prospect Andrea Kimi Antonelli.
Out-of-contract drivers on the grid include Carlos Sainz 🌳who may yet be an attractive option.
Russell was asked what attributes he’s hoping for in his next teammate, and he said: “I think it’s important to h﷽ave good harmony between the drivers.
“Because that trickles down i🌼nto all of the engineers a♌nd the whole team.
🦋“But, ultimately, the decision is wi🐓th Toto and the board.”
Russell and Hamilton tested the W15 this w🅠eek at preseason testing in Bahrain.
It is the fina🌞l F1 car that Hamilton will drive for Mercedℱes.
Russell, therefore, may see🌊 2024 as his opportunity to establish himself as Mercedes’ future leader.
Mercedes’ most recent F1 grand prix win - i🌟n Sao Paulo in 2022 - came via Russell in a season where he🍸 out-scored Hamilton.

James was a sports journalist at Sky Sports for a decade covering everything from American sports, to fo𓃲otball, to F1.