The future of Williams Racing driver George Russell has been the subject of ever increasing scrutiny as the 2021 season moves ahead. Now just prior to the French Grand Prix weekend these reports, rumours and speculation as to Russell's future are all firmly linking him with a drive with Mercedes in 2022.

But the question that comes from this possible future move by Russell has to be the seat that he will take in the Mercedes team. It is widely accepted that the Hamilton will stay on at Mercedes going into 2022 but the drive of Valtteri Bottas is somewhat under question. His place at Mercedes has not been helped by what appears to be a slump in form in some of the early races in the 2021 championship.

But in the pre-race drivers interviews for the French race both Bottas and Russell and spoken on these reports.

For Bottas he has made it clear that for him they are nothing but background noise that he is trying to put out of his mind. But he made it very clear that these reports are pretty much baseless as he has not yet started talks with the Mercedes. There has been no communication about his future with the team.

Bottas said: “I haven’t really thought about it yet that deeply, honestly.

“Obviously, you can’t always block the noise that is around, and it’s every, every season is the same thing, same questions and same speculation, that’s part of the sport.

“We haven’t really yet discussed anything about contract, that will come eventually. We’ll see maybe at some point.”

As for the suggestions that he had been advised by the Mercedes team that he will be replaced for the 2022 season Bottas denied these.

Bottas added: “I can’t can’t confirm that, at least nobody told me about that so that’s not true, that’s speculation.

“I’m sure there’s all kinds of information that is not based on any facts, people are trying to make up stories just for the clicks you know that’s how it goes.”

On the other side of the discussion is George Russell and he also was asked as to whether he had been told that he’d be driving for Mercedes seat next year, Russell spoke of how he had not signed anything which sees him join Mercedes in 2022. But this was not a complete denial by the Williams driver.

Russell said: “Nothing’s set in stone for next year. I’m still a Williams driver, I haven’t signed any contracts.

“I’m just fully focused on my job at the moment, hopefully my future gets settled one way or another, maybe come the summer break. But right now, just enjoying the racing and focused on that. The better job you do on track, the more chance you have to secure a future as obviously Formula 1 is a ruthless sport.”

“Obviously I’m aware of all of the speculation but I think right now I’m just enjoying driving race by race.

“I want to get my future nailed down at some point. Right now I’m just focused on this weekend. The summer break is usually when these things sort of happen.

“There’s only spot for 20 drivers, and you got to be on your A game, you can’t get too carried away looking into the future. If you start having a bad run of form, suddenly everything can change.”

"It’s sometimes exciting not knowing what the future holds.”

So whether you take position that you can believe these reports or rumours as been correct or you listen to the comments coming from the drivers the future of both drivers is going to create a fascinating part of the Formula One silly season.