In our latest exclusive driver interview, we caught up with new Mercedes driver – George Russell as he reflects on his time in F2 and F1, friendship and preparing to drive full-time for Mercedes.
We first caught up with George following his GP3 title success in 2017 and the 24 year-old British driver has since gone on to enjoy success in F2 and spent the last three seasons primarily at Williams aside from an one-off drive for Mercedes at 2020 Sakhir Grand Prix where he finished ninth with the fastest lap.
This season however sees George step up permanently to Mercedes alongside seven-time champion, Lewis Hamilton in an all British driver line-up.
Ahead of the new campaign, Russell candidly reflected on the challenges of F2 including maintaining friendship in a title fight, as well as his time in F1 so far whilst also looking ahead to how the last four seasons will benefit him at Mercedes this season.
You had just won the GP3 title at time of our last interview and made the step up into F2 in 2018 alongside Jack Aitken at ART GP again. Given that you two were not just teammates but title rivals in GP3, how much did it mean to graduate with Aitken and ART GP into F2?
Russell: “We were honestly rivals in GP3 and having had that consistency helped us perform well in F2 and he was a driver that I got along with so that always made things a bit easier.”
Reliability of new F2 cars were a huge issue in first half of 2018 for many like yourself, so how easy did you find adapting to the new car whilst trying to mount an eventually successful title challenge?
Russell: “I think that the biggest frustration during that season was the poor reliability not just for myself but for every driver in the championship. It was kind of acceptable to a degree but everyone had so many issues but I found it relatively easy adapting to a new car.
“I had never driver a previous era of cars so for me it was just like a bigger and faster version of GP3.”
That season also saw you have two close friends in Albon and Norris pushing you all the way in the title fight. What was it like to have Albon and Norris pushing you for the title whilst maintaining that friendship circle off-track and through into F1?
Russell: “I think because we never had any close battles or any moment on track for us to fall out. I think often with drivers there is no reason not to be friends unless there is an incident on track that happens which you’ve a disagreement and fortunately for us we didn’t.
“We raced hard and that situation never arose but no definitely it was great to be pushing one another and ultimately it made all three of us a better driver having pushed each other.”
2019 saw you graduate to F1 with Williams where you enjoyed a dominant three seasons with strong progress over your teammates plus a guest drive at Mercedes at 2020 Sakhir GP. Looking back now as you prepare for your first season at Mercedes, how important do you think your time at Williams has been for your development?
Russell: “It’s been vital for my development. Going through those ups and downs with disappointments plus the constant struggles to achieve good results has made me a more resilient driver.
“Just driving a more very difficult race car, I feel I have built a good toolbox of skills that potentially I would of not of had built have I been driving the championship winning car which even feeling relatively good week in week out.
“Obviously I wanted to win from day one but you need to find a positive in every situation.”
The 2020 season however was delayed due to the worldwide lockdown which you seemed to embrace in many ways from virtual racing to home gym. As a young driver, what was the trickiest aspect of handling the lockdown whilst trying to prepare for the season to get underway?
Russell: “There were no real tricky moments. I actually felt very fortunate that the worldwide pandemic came.
“I nor my family hadn’t been affected closely and I felt grateful to have my family around me and tackling something new in the virtual racing was a new experience and one which I really enjoyed getting into but obviously I really wanted to be racing but it opened my eyes to the bigger picture on the side of racing.”
Once the season eventually got underway, you endured plenty of highs and lows from a race-ending spin at Imola to scoring your first points in F1 at Sakhir GP in your first race for Mercedes. How do you reflect on that second season in F1 which saw you experience new lessons plus a brief team swap and how will that practical Mercedes experience during a race weekend benefit you this season?
Russell: “I think having had one race with Mercedes team definitely helps but it probably helped me more for the 2021 season opposed to this year because it boosted my confidence knowing that I can achieve great results in the right circumstances.
“At the back of the field in a Williams, it felt like I was doing a great job there but there was always a small element of doubt but knowing that I have only got one teammate and if that teammate was to be Lewis Hamilton for example, how would he get on but generally having had that opportunity of being in the right car in the right circumstances I know that I definitely can do a job.”
Last season saw further progress with more points finishes, improved Qualifying form and a wet-weather podium in Belgian. After two difficult seasons with Williams, how much does it mean that you and the team were able to make that step forward in your final season together?
Russell: “It made a huge difference because there had been so much hard work and determination over the course of these years but we had nothing to show for it but we finally did have something to show for that hard work and it wasn’t for nothing and that left me a lot of pride and so pleased that we could achieve that.”
Finally, how excited are you to get the chance to partner Lewis Hamilton this season and potentially challenge for the title at your first proper opportunity?
Russell: “I’m really excited to be teammates with Lewis. Obviously the greatest racer of all time for a reason and it is going to be great learning from the best and working alongside him seeing how he does things and continue my development.
“For me the championship is not something that I am thinking about what so ever. Just taking it race by race and we will see how things work out but it’s going to be an exciting season for sure.”
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