Mercedes F1 test not guaranteed yet, says Russell

The British teenager was confirmed as a Mercedes junior on Thursday, a role he will combine with an assault on the GP3 title with ART Grand Prix.

With Mercedes' only two other juniors, Esteban Ocon and Pascal Wehrlein, now in F1 race seats, Russell is the only member of the German marque's scheme eligible to take part in mandatory in-season young driver testing.

But although he acknowledges this means he is a "natural" choice to put in the car later in the year, Russell insisted he is not getting his hopes up.

He also revealed that GP3 testing commitments would prevent him from taking part in the first in-season test at Bahrain, meaning his only F1 chance would be in the second in-season test at Silverstone.

“I’m the only driver on the scheme who isn’t in F1, but anything could happen,” Russell told Motorsport.com. “I’m just focused on the job at hand.

"I’m in the frame, but it doesn’t mean I’ve made it. I still have to do the job."

“Bahrain clashes with a GP3 test, so the second test is far more likely. I’m preparing myself physically to be ready if I get chosen to go in the car, but it’s not high on my agenda.

“My full focus is on GP3 and going out to win the championship.” 

GP3 title could open 2018 F1 door

Russell has spent the last two seasons racing in Formula 3, and by switching to GP3 follows in the footsteps of the series' last two champions, Ocon and Charles Leclerc.

While he said he doesn't feel pressure to emulate his ART predecessors, Russell did admit that performing well in the junior series will be critical to any future F1 race seat hopes - and that a direct move isn't out of the question.

"I think Mercedes are the best as far as looking after their young drivers who perform," said the 18-year-old. "You’ve only got to look at Esteban and Pascal, who have been given amazing opportunities.

"Nevertheless, they have had to perform. Esteban won GP3, Pascal won DTM, they did the job and they got the opportunity.

"It all depends on my year this year, really. If I do a good job, I know Mercedes will take care of me. Obviously F1 is the target, but the short-term target is winning the championship in GP3.

"Esteban almost went straight to F1, [Valtteri] Bottas and [Daniil] Kvyat were the same. There’s no reason why I couldn’t jump straight from GP3 to F1.

"It’s massively about timing – you need to perform at the right time, when there is a seat available."