Mercedes has selected Williams driver George Russell over their own reserve driver, Stoffel Vandoorne, as a replacement for seven-time defending world Formula One champion Lewis Hamilton for this weekend’s 2020 Sakhir Grand Prix.
Hamilton has been forced to withdraw from the race in Bahrain after testing positive for Covid-19.
Meanwhile, ironically, Williams responded by selecting their own reserve driver, Jack Aitken, to replace Russell for the 2020 Sakhir Grand Prix.
Russell has made 36 Formula 1 career starts – all for Williams – and has yet to score a point, finishing 21st in the driver standings last year and is currently sitting in a tie for last place in the standings this year along with his Williams teammate, Nicholas Latifi. Russell’s best F1 finish to date has been 11th place at the 2020 Tuscan Grand Prix.
Aitken, 25, will make his F1 debut but the Briton has competed in Formula 2 this season, earning two podiums and eight other points finishes. He finished fifth overall in F2 last season.