Brands Hatch: F1's beloved countryside amphitheatre
On this day in 1964, the roar of F1 engines echoed through the Kent countryside for the first time, as Brands Hatch made its debut on the world stage
Briton George Russell to step up from F2 to Williams F1 in 2019
Mercedes junior and Formula 2 leader George Russell will drive for the Williams Formula 1 team in 2019.
The 20-year-old is a test and reserve driver for Mercedes but has signed a multi-year contract with customer team Williams.
Russell, 2017 GP3 champion, could clinch the F2 title in Abu Dhabi, as he currently holds a 37-point lead over Alex Albon.
“From watching the races when I was a child, it feels surreal that I will now be lining up on the grid, alongside drivers whom I have admired for years,” said Russell in a statement.
“I would like to thank Claire and everyone at Williams for their faith in making this decision, as well as Toto [Wolff] and the team at Mercedes for their fantastic support throughout GP3 and Formula 2. I am incredibly excited to start working with everyone at Grove and to take my first steps as a Formula 1 race driver.”
More: In the spotlight: George Russell
Claire Williams, deputy team principal, added: “I am delighted to announce that George Russell will be joining Williams from the 2019 season.
“We have always tried to promote and develop young talent at Williams, and George fits that ethos perfectly. He is already highly regarded in the paddock and a driver whose career we have been watching for a while.”
The team hasn’t yet confirmed Lance Stroll or Sergey Sirotkin’s seat.
On this day in 1964, the roar of F1 engines echoed through the Kent countryside for the first time, as Brands Hatch made its debut on the world stage
Nico Hülkenberg's long-awaited first podium at Silverstone came after a virtuoso drive, but it only came about thanks to one unforgettable qualifying lap in 2020, as Mark Hughes recalls
Nico Hülkenberg's first F1 podium followed a faultless British GP drive where he went against his team with strategy calls that proved crucial in wet weather at Silverstone. Here are the radio messages that show how he pulled it off
From shock Zoom calls to ruthless midnight firings, F1’s history is littered with team principals and executives who are in command one moment and unceremoniously sacked the next