Herbert: If Russell becomes F2 champ he should be in F1

Goerge Russell is “one of those” Mercedes backed drivers who despite his obvious talent and promise, may have to skip a year of top-level racing should he become Formula 2 champion at the end of the season, an accolade which grand prix winner Johnny Herbert believes deserves an automatic ticket to Formula 1.

Russell has tested for Force India, but there is no place for the 20-year-old Englishman in the team’s new Racing Point era and he is hardly high on the shopping list for Williams at this stage.

The Mercedes Formula 1 junior has carried out testing work for Racing Point Force India, but with Lance Stroll looking certain to join Sergio Perez at the team, that seat is off the table for Russell.

But Sky F1 pundit Herbert is adamant, “If George goes on to win the championship, and personally I think he will, he should get an F1 drive.”

Russell leads the F2 championship, with Lando Norris chasing in what has turned into an intriguing duel between Britain’s next generation of potential F1 stars.

“It’s good getting this experience from F2,” insisted Herbert. “In this tense battle that they have been in since race one. Hopefully they will be able to use that to their advantage in F1.”

“That’s where the hard work really starts, it’s getting that momentum and carrying that through. The confidence that gives you is so, so powerful.”

Meanwhile, Russell has added his voice to the call for teams to be allowed to run a third car, as the 20-car grid is simply not doing justice to the abundance of talent on the fringes of Formula 1.