Russell to drive for Mercedes in this week’s 2022 tyre test in Hungary

Williams racer George Russell is to drive for Mercedes on Tuesday as the team take part in a post-race tyre test in Hungary.

Russell will test a Mercedes mule car fitted with Pirelli’s 2022-spec 18-inch tyres around the Hungaroring, two days after claiming his first ever points for Williams with P8 at the Hungarian Grand Prix.

READ MORE: Russell says he ‘shed a tear’ after sealing his first-ever points for Williams in Hungary

It’s not the first time that Russell has tested for Mercedes during his active F1 career, having also completed tests in Bahrain and Abu Dhabi for the Silver Arrows back in 2019 – while his first ever F1 test was in a Mercedes W08 at the same Hungaroring track in 2017.

But Tuesday’s test is bound to be watched with keen interest, given Mercedes are currently weighing up whether to promote Russell into their team alongside Lewis Hamilton for 2022, or keep Valtteri Bottas on for a sixth season – with Mercedes team boss Toto Wolff saying a decision would likely be taken over the summer break.

READ MORE: Bottas or Russell? Wolff says Mercedes will decide on Hamilton’s 2022 team mate over the summer

Russell won’t be alone at the test, meanwhile, with Ferrari and McLaren also set to run at Budapest.