MANAMA –Formula One champion Lewis Hamilton’s late stand-in George Russell ended his first day atop the timesheets with the fastest time for Mercedes in Friday practice for the Sakhir Grand Prix.
The 22-year-old, put into Hamilton’s seat after his fellow Briton tested positive for COVID-19, could not have asked for a better start to his debut with the world champions after lapping fastest in both of the day’s two sessions.
Russell headed Red Bull’s Max Verstappen in both.
He also finished ahead of teammate Valtteri Bottas, who was nursing damage to his Mercedes in the opening 90 minutes and had a lap time, which would have been faster than Russell’s best…
Keep on reading: Hamilton stand-in Russell sets practice pace on Mercedes debut