Formula 1 veteran Kimi Raikkonen to announce F1 career retirement at Monza, Italian Grand Prix venue – French broadcaster Canal+ reports a major update on another shakeup and Kimi exit.

Valtteri Bottas’ race seat in Mercedes might be in threat if the Silver Arrows choose to replace him with George Russell for 2022 F1.

Canal+ claim that a trusted source has told them Kimi will officially announce his retirement with country fellow Bottas then replacing him at Alfa Romeo.

Explaining the delay in making any announcement, Mercedes boss Toto Wolff said it was “because there are stakeholders that are involved that we need to respect”.

“As long as contracts are not signed, it makes no sense to announce it,” he added.

Asked by news source Motorsport.com if he wanted both Bottas and Russell to have their future sorted before making any announcement, Wolff replied: “Yes.

“It’s not only our call, but there are other parties involved and you have to always proceed with respect and with diligence.”

Mainstream news sources are confirming that, Nicholas Latifi will keep his seat at Williams for 2022, but high-profile speculation stays around whether or not Russell will be join to Mercedes.

The Italian edition of Motorsport.com claims Williams Racing team principal Jost Capito is looking Red Bull’s reserve driver Alexander Albon as his first choice should he need to replace Russell.

Albon said his chances of returning to the F1 grid in 2022

“In terms of an age, no [I’m not old],” 25-year old Albon says. “But F1 moves relatively quickly. More than a year out, the car gets tricky.”

“A year’s break is as much as you can do. That’s what Esteban [Ocon] did. Fernando [Alonso] is a different example, but Fernando is Fernando!

“The car evolves so quickly, technology is improving. There isn’t a series out there that is close to F1. You can’t jump around and do different things. So it’s one year [out] maximum. A lot of the push now is making sure I can do everything I can and also being active myself, looking around, seeing what is out there for me.”

“Everyone has been super nice to me at Red Bull. Helmut [Marko, Red Bull Motorsports Advisor] and Christian, I’m sure if an opportunity did come about they would be open in helping me and supporting me.”

“I’m sure the sim and reserve role would still be an option, too. For now, my main focus is F1, to see if there’s so space. And then we’ll see.” British-Thai driver added.

George Russell, who is highly recommended team-mate of the Lewis Hamilton for 2022 Mercedes F1 team, has said that he will challenge seven-times world champion in upcoming season with a win-win scenario, because he would have “nothing to lose”.

The British youngster impressed in recent F1 races with an uncompetitive Williams machine, it would replace Valtteri Bottas for 2022 F1 Mercedes. Some trusted news sources indicating that the official announcement will come at British Grand Prix on next weekend.

Everyone wants to go up against the best driver,” Russell said in an interview with AutoCar.

“Everyone believes in themselves, but for me, I’d love that challenge because the pressure would be off and I’d find myself in a win-win scenario.

“I’d go in with that mentality if I ever found myself up against one of the best drivers of all time. You have got nothing to lose – which I think is great really.

“That is the sort of situation that Sergio Perez finds himself in at the moment. He’s got no pressure because he’s got nothing to lose – and so you go out there and enjoy it, and show them what you can do.”

I feel ready to fight for victories and world championships, Russel says

“I believe in myself and I feel ready to fight for victories and world championships. I had the massive challenge in Bahrain last year, being thrown in at the deep end with no preparation and no laps in the car.”

“I think it has been proven how difficult it is to jump between cars and get up to speed. I felt far from up to speed for that race but we still managed to do a pretty decent job so I think I feel ready. Obviously.” The Brit added.

He claims that last year Bahrain GP performance was normal with Mercedes, not performed with his maximum effort.

“The weekend went well,” he says, “but I don’t think I performed to my maximum. That is normal if you try something new. You are not going to get to grips with it on your very first occasion and that was the position I found myself in.”

He doesn’t believe in luck!

“I am not one to believe in luck,” he says. “To be honest, you make your own luck. If I find myself in a world-championship-winning car next year, I am not going to turn around and say: ‘That’s lucky!’ But if I don’t get it, I am not going to turn around and say it was unlucky. Russel says

“You are where you are because of what you achieve and what you accomplish, whether it is on track or off track. That’s my mentality and I’m not relying on luck for anything. I’m not hoping that everyone crashes and I win the race. I’m relying on me doing the best job possible with the team – and if we come home 12th, that’s the maximum. We cannot rely on others to break down. We need to do a better job.” The youngster concluded

Formula 1 pundit Martin Brundle claims that the champions Mercedes could announce George Russell as Valtteri Bottas’ replacement for 2022 F1 Hamilton’s partner at the British Grand Prix next weekend.

Last race weekend at Austria Seven-time F1 world champion Lewis Hamilton signs a new two-year deal with the Silver Arrows.

Brundle also believes the British Grand Prix would be the “perfect” location for Mercedes to make the declaration.

“It wouldn’t surprise me if George got the drive next year alongside Lewis at Mercedes,” Brundle said.

“Whether it’ll be announced at Silverstone, if they’re going to do it, why not? It would be the perfect place.”

“If you were running Mercedes you’d ask: ‘is Valtteri Bottas is our man to win the World Championship when Lewis inevitably retires two, three, four years into the future?’,” he said.

“You’d have to think no. I hate to say that, I really admire Valtteri as he is a great driver and does an amazing job against the might of Lewis Hamilton but you can’t honestly say if Lewis wasn’t there Valtteri would be dominating instead, can you?

“So I think Mercedes have to get a young gun in there that would emerge as their automatic new team leader sooner than later,” he concluded.

Gave it everything but we couldn't quite hold on for the point. Respect to @alo_oficial for a tough, clean battle. Let's hope it's the first of many. pic.twitter.com/L5cJNbXDBj

— George Russell (@GeorgeRussell63) July 4, 2021

Last season at Bahrain, Russell proved himself his potential for Mercedes race seat. When he replaced Covid positive Lewis, and the Brit showed an impressive performance.

“It’s just been a lot of difficult moments to deal with,” Russell told RacingNews365 this week.

“I feel fortunate because hopefully, in the future, having the chance to fight for victories and World Championships, I’ve experienced a lot more disappointment than others.

“I think it will make you mentally stronger and will actually helped me in the difficult moments in the future, because for sure there will be some.”