George Russell has se🍎en the names of F1 drivers who have contracted Toto Wolff about coming to Mercedes next year.

Team principal Wolff is faced with the colo🦂ssal decis𒁃ion of how to replace seven-time F1 champion Lewis Hamilton.

Hamilton will 🃏race 🍨for one final season with Mercedes before going to Ferrari next year, creating a coveted vacancy alongside Russell.

Russell said about his fu♌ture teammate🦩: “[Wolff and I] already had conversations.

“I’ve been with T෴oto a lot this winter. Seeing the drivers’ names pop up on the telephones was quite funny.

“Even on my phone,𓆉 as wel﷽l, the phone calls and text messages…

“So yeah it’s been quite interesting.

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

“There﷽’s♏ been so much 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 Carlos Sainz who may yet be an attract💛ive 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 engineers and the whole t🎃eam.

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

Russell and Hamilton tested the W🃏15 this week at preseason testing in Bahrain.

It is the final F1 car that Hamilton wi꧂ll drive for Mercedes.

Russell, therefore, may see 2024 as his opportunity to establish himsel൲f as Mercedes’ futu꧃re leader.

Mercedes’ most recent F1 grand prix win - in Sao Paulo in 2022 - came via Russell in a sea♕son where he out-scored Hꦬamilton.