The vacant Mercedes seat has been a hot topic of conversation, especially as the team continue to find their feet across this season. Their remarkable run of form before the summer break saw them claim six podiums in just as many races, including three victories.
Their pace appeared to inexplicably fall away in Zandvoort, but they are still considered to be one of the top teams on the grid, and a superb outfit for Antonelli to potentially make his debut with.
READ MORE: Hamilton rues impact of poor qualifying in Zandvoort as Russell mystified by Mercedes’ lack of pace
Russell also revealed that he has been following the Italian’s season in F2, where he has taken victory in the Silverstone Sprint and the Hungary Feature Race.
“We always keep a close eye on how he’s getting on, watching all of the races,” Russell said. “We did a test together in Silverstone a couple of months ago, so that was a great opportunity for him to get behind the wheel of a Formula 1 car.
“He was exceptionally fast, so I’m sure if he were to get a drive in Formula 1, I’m sure he’d do a great job.”
