Fenland driver George Russell to replace Formula One champion Lewis Hamilton to race in Bahrain

Fenland-born George Russell will replace Formula One's reigning champion Lewis Hamilton for his Mercedes team in this weekend's Grand Prix in Bahrain.

George, 22, from Tydd St Giles and a former Wisbech Grammar School pupil, will take Hamilton's place after he was forced to withdraw from the Sakhir Grand Prix after testing positive for covid-19.

In an interview with the BBC's Formula One writer George Benson, George described his step up as a "great chance to learn from the best outfit on the grid right now".

George signed for the world-title winning Mercedes team in January 2017 when he was just 19 and went on to compete in the feeder series GP3 that season.

He was a Mercedes reserve driver in 2018 before being released to Williams on a three-year contract from the start of the 2019 season.

George could also find himself racing in the season's closing race in Abu Dhabi the following week if Hamilton does not recover in time.

Tweeting about the move George said: "Very few people are lucky enough to drive for an @F1 team each year. I'm about to get the chance to drive for two.

"Unbelievably grateful to @WilliamsRacing and @MercedesAMGF1 for this opportunity.

"Thank you all."