Horner anxious to see how Russell performs on Mercedes "main stage"

Red Bull team principal Christian Horner is anxious to discover the impact George Russell will have in F1 next year when he steps onto "the main stage" at Mercedes.

After three seasons spent waiting in the wings with Williams and learning his trade, the 23-year-old Mercedes protegé is to finally be given his opportunity with the works team.

Russell, who replaces Alfa Romeo-bound Valtteri Bottas, joins forces with seven-time champion Lewis Hamilton in going up against Max Verstappen and Sergio Perez at Red Bull as F1 ushers in its new aerodynamic era.

Assessing the impression Russell could have, Horner said: "For sure, he strengthens the team. He is a great talent. You’ve seen that in a Williams.

"He has achieved front-row starts and podiums and he is obviously a talent for the future.

"You can see why Toto [Wolff] has taken him for next year and I think he really deserves that chance. How that will play out only time will tell."

Russell has often displayed his prodigious talent in an under-performing Williams over the years and delivered a superb performance in stepping in for Hamilton at Mercedes in last year's Sakhir Grand Prix after his fellow Briton contracted Covid.

This season, Russell has enjoyed a recent run of scoring points in four of the last five grands prix to propel him up to 15th in the drivers' standings.

Mirroring in some respects Verstappen's promotion from Toro Rosso to Red Bull a few years ago, Horner added: "It’s exciting for everyone to see.

"The one thing that doesn’t stand still in this sport, or any sport, is time and there’s always an emerging talent, there’s always somebody coming through.

"We’ve seen that with Max, and George is from the same sort of era and the same sort of ilk and it’s going to be fascinating to see how he gets on in that sort of environment, stepping up onto the main stage."

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