McLaren CEO Zak Brown believes Mercedes will have an all-new driver line-up in 2022.
While Lewis Hamilton and Valtteri Bottas only have one-year contracts for this season, team boss Toto Wolff has made it clear they will get first priority on keeping their seats for next year and beyond,
However, just as Formula 1 embarks on a new era of regulations in 2022, Brown believes the reigning champions of the past seven years will do likewise.
“I think that is the obvious conclusion,” he told the Daily Mail. “You’ll see Max [Verstappen] and George [Russell] there in 2022.
“Lewis wins title number eight this year and is [victorious] in every category; they have a one-year deal with him. George is coming out of his deal [at Williams], and Max has a deal he comes out of [at Red Bull].
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“You have Max’s experience and youth, and you have George’s youth, if I am Mercedes, that’s a pretty killer lineup for the next five years.
“The interesting thing is, what does Red Bull do? That’s a harder one to answer.”
The reality is a little different to what Brown portrays as Verstappen is currently signed at Red Bull until 2023, but does have a potential escape clause for the end of this year.
Russell’s future though is entirely in Mercedes’ hands…
“I told Toto recently every question is about Mercedes and hypothetical possibilities of how I would enjoy being a teammate with Max, with Lewis,” he told the Standard.
“We’re a big way away from that really. Formula 1 is a very unique, very dynamic, changing world.
“One bad result, one mishap on track or off track can change the course of your career, so I’m not getting carried away with myself.
“I’m professional, I’m here to do the best possible job at Williams, but equally Mercedes have been so loyal to me over the last six years.
“We’re in it together and if it happens, when it happens, it will be natural and if they believe it’s right.”
Russell, who could have very easily won when he stood in for Hamilton at the Sakhir Grand Prix last year, also revealed when he expects a decision to be made
“My relationship with Mercedes is stronger than it has ever been,” he told the PA News Agency.
“They know the situation, they know I want to be fighting for victories and championships. They saw what I could do in Bahrain so I need to focus on myself and I don’t need to be badgering them.
“It [a decision] will not be any longer than the summer break (in August) for all parties involved – Mercedes, Williams and for all the drivers – so it is fair on everybody,” George added.
“And unless anything catastrophic happens in the coming six months, Mercedes know the position I am in and the position they are in.
“I am getting stronger year-on-year and I believe I am at a level and ready to be fighting for wins and world championships.
“But we will have to see. F1 is a funny business and I don’t take anything for granted.”