Williams vs Mercedes Team

Lore & Background

Russell began karting at age seven, won the 2014 BRDC F4 Championship, the 2017 GP3 Series, and the 2018 FIA Formula 2 Championship back-to-back with ART. He made his Formula One debut with Williams in 2019, partnering Robert Kubica. Russell substituted for Lewis Hamilton at the 2020 Sakhir Grand Prix for Mercedes, but was denied victory due to a team error and a puncture. He scored his maiden podium at the curtailed 2021 Belgian Grand Prix with Williams. In 2022, Russell replaced Valtteri Bottas at Mercedes to partner Hamilton; in his first season, he achieved his maiden pole position in Hungary and his maiden win in São Paulo, finishing fourth in the World Drivers' Championship. After a winless season for Mercedes in 2023, Russell won the Austrian and Las Vegas Grands Prix in 2024, followed by the Canadian and Singapore Grands Prix in 2025; in 2024, he also became the first driver in 30 years to be disqualified from a race win. Amidst a new regulation cycle introduced for 2026, Mercedes emerged as the fastest team, with Russell winning the Australian and Austrian Grands Prix.

Reader's Guide

Russell is contracted to remain at Mercedes until at least the end of the 2026 season. As of the latest data, he has achieved multiple race wins, pole positions, fastest laps, and podiums in Formula One.

Did You Know?

• Russell won the Autosport BRDC Award at age 17, becoming the youngest-ever winner.
• He prepared a Microsoft PowerPoint presentation to persuade Mercedes to sign him to its junior team.