34-0, Russell’s feat that allows him to dream
With a new incursion into Q2 aboard his modest Williams, George Russell confirms that he indeed has his place in F1. Renewed for 2021, the Englishman continues to crush the internal qualifying duel with a 34-0. Beyond the simple statistic, the performance has other stakes.
A budding champion
GP3 Series champion, GP2 champion, George Russell’s past leaves no doubt, he was a champion in the making.
His remarkable driving skills led him to a dream structure for any young aspiring F1 driver: the Mercedes family.
Recruited at the last minute when he was about to leave for the DTM, the young Englishman was integrated into the young drivers’ program of the Star firm as of 2016.
After various tests with the official Mercedes, George Russell managed to be placed at Williams alongside the experienced Kubica, making his return to F1, as early as 2018.
Thoughtful and quick, the young Englishman convinces and proves throughout the season that he has the right skills to be an F1 driver. With solid races and making very few mistakes, he impresses especially in qualifying, where his pure performance is never matched by his Polish teammate.
Handicapped by a single-seater with no choice but to compete at the back of the grid, he doesn’t score any points but continues to make a good impression on the Mercedes management.
Stars in the eyes
At one point considered as a replacement alongside Hamilton for the uninspiring Bottas, the Finn is nonetheless retained in the highly coveted seat of the best single-seater on the grid.
Kubica replaced by Nicolas Latifi, the situation remains the same. The qualifying duels are short-lived. Russell maintains an unparalleled advantage and remains undefeated at Williams in this game.
Still under the wing of Toto Wolff’s team, the Englishman knows, however, that the structure is recently without a real solution for its young drivers, like Pascal Wehrlein and Esteban Ocon, who had to leave Mercedes to find refuge with Renault.
34 – 0 VS paying driver?
Confirmed at Williams while rumors had him out, his talent probably compensated for his lack of budget compared to some drivers accompanied by full suitcases, often greatly beneficial for some teams.
Undefeated in qualifying duels and regularly in Q2, the young Russell can boast an incredible score of 34 to 0 against his various teammates, a true feat that reflects the exceptional driving skills of the Englishman.
No doubt that this performance is the reason for the Williams Driver’s continuation on the grid for next year, probably supported by Toto Wolff himself. The Austrian knows that sacrificing such talent for the sake of a handful of money would once again reflect the failure of Mercedes’ young driver program.
Let’s hope, beyond his continuation in a team that offers few prospects for the driver, that George Russell can prove his abilities in a competitive single-seater in the near future, with perhaps dreams of becoming a champion in a Silver Arrow.
