George Russell has seen the names of F1 drivers who h🐷ave contracted Toto Wolff about coming to Mercedes next year.

Team principal Wolff is faced with the colossal decision of how t൲o replac🥂e seven-time F1 champion Lewis Hamilton.

Hamilton will race for one final season with Mercedes before going to Ferrari next year, creating a coveted vacanc🔯y alongside Russell.

Russell said about his future teammate: “[Wolff and I] already had conversati❀on൩s.

“I’ve been with Toto a lot this winter. Seeing the drꦺivers’ names pop up on the telephones was quiteꦫ funny.

“𓃲Even on my phone, as well, the phone calls and text messages…

“So yeah it’s been quite interesting.

“But, as a tไ🅠eam, we’re in a really good opportunity and position to go into this next chapter.

“There’s been so muc𒊎h success with Lewis and Mercedes.”

Options range from the two-time F1 champion Fernando Alonso - who refused ♋to comment this week in Bahrain when asked about going to﷽ Mercedes - to teenage prospect Andrea Kimi Antonelli.

Out-of-contract drivers on the grid include Ca🉐rlos Sainz who may yet be an a༒ttractive option.

Russell was asked wha💯t attributes he’s hoping for in his next teammate, and he said: “I think൩ it’s important to have good harmony between the drivers.

“Because that trickle🎉s down into all of the engineers and the whole team.

ﷺ“But, ultimately, the decision is with Toto and 𒊎the board.”

Ru🔴ssell and Hamilton tested the W15 this week at preseason testing in Bahrain.

It is th🃏♕e final F1 car that Hamilton will drive for Mercedes.

Russell, therefore, may see 2024 as his opport✅unity to establish himself as Mercedes’ future leader.

Mercedes’ most 📖recent F1 grand prix win - in Sao Paulo in 2022 - came via Russell in a season where he out-scored Hamilton.