George Russell hopes to get Williams out of the rut
George Russell has never been beaten by his teammate this season. This gives him the motivation to pull Williams upwards.
It is an understatement to say that George Russell’s beginnings in F1 are taking place in a challenging context. Williams is by far the least performing team on the grid.
In this gloomy context, George Russell maintains a positive mindset and keeps smiling. How does he do it? Very simple: “I see the light at the end of the tunnel,” he told us in the Hockenheim paddock. He also doesn’t forget that he is fortunate to be one of the 20 drivers allowed to compete in F1: “It’s not hard to stay motivated. I’m lucky to be paid to do what I love. F1 cars are incredibly fast. I still enjoy experiencing these things.”
Thus, Williams arrives in Germany with new developments: « It will be the first time this year where we will see a small step forward. We will have visible changes on the car. » By this, it means that the team has been able to make changes to its aerodynamic parts, which are therefore visible from the outside.
Since the beginning of the season, the team has indeed focused on the stability of the car, directing its development towards mechanical aspects so that the drivers have confidence in the behavior of their vehicle before truly considering performance.
Even if he hopes to close the gap with the competition by the end of the season, the important thing lies elsewhere. As a Mercedes protégé, he knows that fate could smile on him in the years to come, and he must position himself to be a leader in his team. That is what he is trying to do at Williams, by guiding the development of the car: « You have to steer the team in the right direction, try to be a leader. At the factory, there are 700 people who listen to every word we say. It is therefore essential to provide them with the right information. I like being that person, the one who will have helped the team grow. »
He approaches this challenging season with the perspective of what it will bring him in the long term, especially if he is called up to the main team: « When your car is difficult to drive, it motivates you to spend more time with the engineers to understand how to improve it, understand what I need to improve in myself to help the engineers understand what I need to be competitive. »
When asked about his future, the answer is swift: « The only reason I wouldn’t be with Williams next year is if I were with Mercedes! » He knows, therefore, that everything he does today will benefit him next year by staying with the Grove team.
From our special correspondent in Hockenheim
