After months of speculation, Mercedes finally a꧂nnounced that Russell will be Valt🔴teri Bottas’ replacement.

The news 🐻was sparked by Alfa Romeo’s announcement on Monday that Bottas will spear the team’s driver line-up for 2022 and beyond.

✱Hamilton has consistently praised Bottas during their time as teammate♉s, labelling him as his ‘best teammate ever’.

Following🔯 Russell’s announcement, Hamilton took to social media to welcome his new teammateಞ. 

“I want to take a moment to welcome [Russell] to the team,” he wrote. “I remember meeting him when he was young, dreaming of one day being a For༒mula 1🌄 driver. I’d only just reached my own dream of becoming an F1 driver, so I know what this day means and how it will feel for him.

“He is a great example to ꦓall the kids out there that dreams do come true when you chase them wholeheart✅edly.”

Despite having fractious relationships with some of his former teammates in the past - Nico Rosberg and Fernando Alonso - Hamilton is confident of maintaining a go🐠od relationship with Russell.

He said ahead of the Dutch GP: “I think George is an incredibly talented driver, clearly. ♛I’d say probably the only highlight from last week ꦍwas his qualifying lap, it was amazing. I think he’s humble, I think he’s got a great approach, naturally being British I imagine probably helps in terms of communication helps. 

“At the moment naturally I have to be super-supportive of the teammate I have right now so that’s why I’m always supportive of Valtteri because we have a job to do right now and neither of us can win the tღeam championship alone. We have to do it collectively. 

“I think it would be… [Russell’s] the future of the sport, I think he’s already shown incredible driving so far and I’m sure he’s going to continue to g♕row, so where better to do it than a great team like this… or whatever team he goes to.”