George Russell reflects on his evolution as a Formula 1 driver alongside Lewis Hamilton.
George Russell has successfully earned his status as a driver capable of clinching a Formula One world championship.
Despite his move from Williams to Mercedes F1 not coinciding with a continuation of the German team’s strong performance, particularly with the ground-effect cars, the Briton has made a significant impact and has not buckled under the pressure of racing alongside his teammate, the seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton.
Asked by RTBF to reflect on his competitiveness, he responded: “I am a more complete driver than I was six years ago. But I don’t think I am faster today than I was ten years ago.”
“You either have speed or you don’t. Where I’ve made progress is in handling more complex situations, managing tyres, dealing with traffic, the pressure. You learn to handle these moments better with experience. It’s been two and a half years of hard work, tough races. We were a bit lost, not sure which direction to take. And now, after all this hard work, since Montreal, the pole position, the win in Austria, the pole at Silverstone with Lewis, etc. And now, we are in a good phase, but of course, we want more.”
Russell admits he has learned a great deal from Lewis Hamilton. But what, specifically?
“I’ve learned a lot from Lewis on a human level: his way of managing engineers and getting the best out of the team.”
“From a driving standpoint, we are all different. For me, it’s always important to find your own path. A comparison I used to make in the past: Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal, and Novak Djokovic… they all have tremendous success in Grand Slams, but they are different players. You need to find your own way. If you try to copy someone, their style, you’ll never be as good as them. If I tried to drive like Lewis, I would never be as fast as him. The same goes for Lewis if he tries to do like me. You have to find your own path.”
“Leadership is much discussed because Lewis is departing,” Russell continues.
“However, the way I see racing, my driving, I think this has been my best season in terms of speed. I won’t change anything next year. I will build on what I’ve done this year. Lewis and I have the same level of influence within the team. We are equally respected by the entire team. Now that he’s leaving, I hope my future teammate will have the same impact as I do. We are fortunate to have two drivers in the same car, and we need all the information from each driver. The team must always come first. It’s the team that gives you the opportunity. It’s the team that designs the car, builds it, puts the wheels on. We are a significant part of this puzzle, but we are not the only part. Ultimately, if as a driver you do things right, you shouldn’t be selfish. You qualify in pole, if you get the best start and are in the lead, and if you are the fastest, there will be no issue. Things are in your own hands to prevent being selfish.”
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Russell’s Evolution Amid F1’s Changing Dynamics Russell’s Evolution Amid F1’s Changing Dynamics
