THURSDAY, DECEMBERNOVEMBER 3,12, 2020 2020 12 Russell subs for Hamilton in Sakhir GP Williams F1 star released by team to join Mercedes for this weekend’s events at Bahrain International Circuit recovery during his period of George Russell to self-isolation.” • It is unclear whether Russell partner Valtteri Bottas George has shown will also be racing for Mercedes for constructors’ impressive form at the season-ending Abu Dhabi world champions this year with Grand Prix from December 11 to Williams, playing an 13. Mercedes said yesterday that Briton becomes first instrumental role in their plans for the UAE event will • be announced in due course, member of Mercedes- their climb up the grid, following the F1 Rolex Sakhir Benz junior programme and I am optimistic Grand Prix. to race for F1 team that he will deliver a Meanwhile, standing in for strong performance Russell at Williams for this Jack Aitken to replace alongside Valtteri, who weekend’s racing will be Jack Aitken, who will compete along- Russell• at Williams will be a demanding reference for him side Nicholas Latifi. for the weekend Aitken is currently the team’s MERCEDES TEAM PRINCIPAL TOTO WOLFF reserve driver and will now TDT | Manama make his F1 debut. The 25-year- “We have a job to do this old is no stranger to Williams’ weekend, and the full focus of FW43, having taken part in an ercedes F1 Team an- our sporting efforts will be be- FP1 session earlier in the season nounced yesterday hind Valtteri and George in or- at the Styrian Grand Prix. Mthat George Russell der to maximise our points score Alongside his reserve driver will race for the team at this as a team. But, of course, our duties, Aitken has been com - thoughts are also with Lewis, weekend’s Formula 1 Rolex George Russel, right, with Williams race engineer James Urwin during the F1 Gulf Air Bahrain Grand Prix last weekend peting in Formula 2 this year, Sakhir Grand Prix in place of and we will be supporting him as scoring two podiums and eight Lewis Hamilton who is unable ilton. “First and foremost, I wish agreement. much as we can to make a rapid other points finishes. to compete. Russell has been a member to thank our loyal partners at “It will not be a straightfor- Russell has been released of the Mercedes-Benz Junior Williams for their collaboration ward task for George to make by Williams in order to join Programme since 2017, when he and open-mindedness in making the transition from the Williams Mercedes for the coming week- won the GP3 Series champion- it possible for George to race for to the W11, but he is race-ready end at Bahrain International ship as a rookie, before repeating Mercedes this weekend,” com- and has detailed understanding Circuit (BIC). the feat in Formula 2 in 2018. mented Mercedes team princi- of the 2020 tyres and how they He becomes just the fifth driv- He has been a fully fledged F1 pal Toto Wolff. perform on this generation of er to race for Mercedes since race driver with Williams since “The conversations with the cars. 2010, and the third Briton to 2019, demonstrating impressive team at Williams were positive “George has shown impressive represent Mercedes-Benz in F1 qualifying and race performanc- and pragmatic, and those were form this year with Williams, after Sir Stirling Moss and Ham- es during the past two seasons. the key factors in reaching an playing an instrumental role in their climb up the grid, and I am optimistic that he will deliver a Seven-time F1 world champion Lewis Hamilton of Mercedes strong performance alongside will be missing a Grand Prix for the first time in his F1 ca- Valtteri [Bottas], who will be a reer, which started with McLaren in 2007. The 35-year-old is demanding reference for him. the sport’s most successful driver of all time, with a record “This race will mark a small KNOW WHAT 95 wins and 98 pole positions. He is missing this weekend’s milestone for us, as we see F1 Rolex Sakhir Grand Prix after testing positive for COV- a member of our Junior pro - ID-19 this week gramme compete for the works Mercedes team for the first time. Jack Aitken…to replace Russell at Williams this weekend F2 champions to be crowned in Sakhir GP weekend onship. Mick Schumacher Meanwhile, also supporting • Bahrain’s F1 double-header for leads the drivers’ 40 the second successive week championship with points will be awarded to will be the Porsche Sprint Chal- Callum Ilott 14 the winners of the round’s lenge Middle East, which will points behind races, with 25 points for be staging the second round of first place in Saturday’s its 2020/2021 season. 48-lap Feature Race and 15 Jaxon Evans was the double Prema Racing points going to the victor winner in the opening meeting in• two-horse battle in the 34-lap Sprint Race supporting the Gulf Air Bahrain with Uni-Virtuosi for on Sunday Grand Prix, and he will be look- teams’ title in 2020 ing for a repeat of his success. points. Uni-Virtuosi are second The upcoming Porsche meet- with 316.5 points, while Hitech ing will feature two Practice TDT | Manama are third on 266 points. Carlin sessions tomorrow at 1.55pm are fourth on 208 and ART Grand and 10.25pm, respectively. Sat- ahrain International Cir- Prix fifth with 201 points. urday will see Qualifying held F2 action from last weekend’s F1 Gulf Air Bahrain Grand Prix at BIC Bcuit (BIC) will this weekend The F2 events at the Rolex at 2pm, followed by the first host the coronation of this year’s macher, who today was con - is third with 162 points, while pole position in Qualifying, and Sakhir Grand Prix will begin 17-lap race at 6.30pm. The sec- drivers’ and teams’ champions firmed to be graduating from F2 Robert Shwartzman, also of Pre- an additional two points from with Practice tomorrow at ond sprint will be at 4.30pm on in the FIA Formula 2 Champion- to an F1 seat with Haas in 2021, ma, is fourth with 159 points each race will be won for setting 3.05pm, followed by Qualify- Sunday. ship, to be held in support of the leads the drivers’ championship and Yuki Tsunoda of Carlin fifth the fastest lap. ing that evening at 6.45pm. The The F1 Rolex Sakhir Grand Formula 1 Rolex Sakhir Grand standings heading into the high- with 157 points. Felipe Drugovich of MP Mot- Feature on Saturday will be at Prix 2020 this weekend will be Prix 2020. ly anticipated finale. Callum Il- A total of 40 points will be orsport and Shwartzman were 3.10pm, while Sunday’s Sprint taking place with all precaution- The F2 season’s final round ott of Uni-Virtuosi follows as his awarded to the winners of the the winners in the previous F2 Race is scheduled for a 3.20pm ary guidelines in place issued will consist of two races, with chief rival just 14 points behind round’s races, with 25 points round, held at BIC last week- start. by the Ministry of Youth and crucial points on the line for the with 191 points. for first place in Saturday’s 48- end in support of the F1 Gulf Air Following the weekend’s sec- Sports Affairs and the Ministry title contenders as they battle Nikita Mazepin of Hitech lap Feature Race and 15 points Bahrain Grand Prix. ond race, a prize giving cere - of Health, as well as those set by along BIC’s 3.543-kilometre Out- Grand Prix, who has been an- going to the victor in the 34- Prema head into the cham- mony will be held in honour of the FIA. er Circuit. nounced as Schumacher’s team- lap Sprint Race on Sunday. Four pionship finale in first place on the 2020 champions of both F2 For more information, visit Prema Racing’s Mick Schu- mate at Haas next F1 season, points are also to be awarded for the Teams’ standings with 364 and the FIA Formula 2 Champi- bahraingp.com. Hon. Chairman Najeb Yacob Alhamer | Editor-in-Chief Mahmood AI Mahmood | Chairman & Managing Director P Unnikrishnan Advertisement: Update Media W.L.L | Tel: 38444692, Email: [email protected] | Newsroom: Tel: 38444680, Email: [email protected] Subscription & circulation: Tel: 36458394 | Email:[email protected] | Website: www.newsofbahrain.com | Printed and published by Al Ayam Publishing .