F3: Russell out of Carlin Macau lineup

Formula 3 European Championship race winner George Russell will not contest next week's Macau Grand Prix.

The 17-year-old, who took sixth in the Euro F3 standings with Carlin this season, had been entered by the British team for the event. But he has now been withdrawn and replaced by Euroformula Open front-runner Yu Kanamaru, who also contested some late-season Formula Renault 3.5 rounds.

Russell, who recently drove a McLaren Formula 1 car as his prize for winning the 2014 McLaren Autosport BRDC Award, has been testing extensively with new F3 squad Hitech Grand Prix, and is out with the team on Wednesday and Thursday this week at Monza.

Speaking from Monza, Russell said: "It was far from my decision not to race in Macau and I'm absolutely gutted I can't be there. As for next year, I'll be doing another year of F3 to try and win the championship, but as for teams I've got nothing sorted yet. I'll be going with the team I believe I've got the best chance of doing that with."

Russell is one of the keys to the F3 driver market for next season and hinted that he is in no hurry to make up his mind. He has not ruled out remaining with Carlin, and it is understood that there has also been dialogue with Prema Powerteam.

Kanamaru contested last year's Macau GP with Carlin, but was unlucky to be caught up in the first-lap pile-up that resulted in him vaulting teammate Jordan King and landing atop a barrier.

Originally on Autosport.com