George Russell has seen the names of F1 dr💖ivers who have contracted Toto Wolff about coming to Mercedes next year.

Team principal Wolff is faced with the colossal 🍸decision of how to replace seven-time F1 champion Lewis Hamilton.

Hamilton will race for one final season wit🍌h Mercedes before going to Ferrari next year, creating a coveted ✨vacancy alongside Russell.

Russell said about his future t🐻eammate: “[Wolff and I] already had conversations.

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

“Even on my phone, a🙈s well, the phone calls and te𝓡xt messages…

“So yeah it’s been quite interesting.

“But, as a team, we’re in a really good opportun𒀰ity and position to go into this next chapter.

“There’s been s🎉o much success with Lewis and Mercedes.”

Options range from the t🐭wo-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 Carlos Sainz who ma✨y yet be an attractive option.

Russell was asked what attributes he’s hoping for🔥 in his next teammate, and he said: “I think it’s important to have good harmony between the drivers.

“Because that trickles down into all of the enginee☂rs and the whole tea🅷m.

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

Russell and Hamil༒ton tested the W15 this week at preseason testing📖 in Bahrain.

It is the final F1🌃 car that Hamilton wi𒊎ll drive for Mercedes.

Russell, therefore, may see 2024 as his opportunity t༒o establish him𝓡self 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.