George Russell: “My time will come”

After having signed the best result of your young career, what assessment do you draw from your first national Grand Prix?

It was a pleasant race because we could attack like in qualifying every lap. And on a track like Silverstone, it’s obviously grandiose. Afterwards, obviously, the final result does not correspond to our expectations. We need more support. I was happy with my performance even if we can always do better. I still think I got the most out of the car.

If we forget the track for a moment, how did you experience this meeting at home?

It was an awesome experience. I expected to see a few supporters but I received great support and it warmed my heart. I just hope that in the years to come I can give them more than 14th place.

What makes British fans so special?

They are passionate! People applaud and wave at you as soon as you get out of the car, even after a 19th place in qualifying for example. They recognize and appreciate the efforts made, because they know how it works. There F1 remains a very English sport. Seven teams are based in the United Kingdom. Lewis's results (Hamilton. Editor's note) inevitably boost the popularity of the discipline and Silverstone always does everything to offer them a global experience.

Were you a fan of Lewis when you were younger?

I wouldn't say he was my idol. I supported Schumacher when I started following F1. That said, since I met Lewis within the environment Mercedes, I have even more respect for what he has done and continues to do. There are many lessons to be learned from his approach.

Williams celebrated several milestone anniversaries this weekend at Silverstone – Sir Frank’s fiftieth at the helm of the team and 40 years since the first victory. What does this inspire you?

I am very familiar with the Williams story. I have been to the museum several times and I am amazed each time. Last week, I brought my coach for the first time and we had fun getting into some cars. It’s amazing to imagine the cars these guys drove back in the day. I had trouble getting my legs in and you only had fiberglass to protect you. I am aware of the team’s track record and it is a privilege to defend its colors. People make fun of our current performance but it’s a long-term project. We could have done several things in the short term to obtain immediate gains, but the team has an overall vision that goes much further.

What was it like to have Sir Frank Williams present at a race weekend?

I see Frank every week at the factory. It’s great for him to get back on track. It doesn't add extra pressure, it's just cool to have him with us in the garage, to feel his support.

The glorious years of the team seem very far away. How are you coping with the difficult times the stable is going through?

We are proceeding in stages at the moment. The team experienced a very complicated season last year and wanted to make a lot of changes in its organization. It’s as if you had to take two steps back before taking three steps forward. The foundations are now in place to be able to bring performance to the car and I am convinced that we could achieve it.

When will you bring the next major developments and will they finally be synonymous with a real improvement?

At Silverstone, we had the very first parts of a major aerodynamic development which should ideally be introduced by Hungary (August 2-4. Editor's note). We didn't expect to gain a lot of lap time. The figures for upcoming new features suggest a significant step forward in the sense that we hope to be able to compete with other cars on the track. Afterwards, it is impossible to predict exactly how these improvements will translate on the track. Will we gain three tenths, six tenths, a full second? We're not 100% sure.

How do you manage to keep your morale in the midst of this slump?

How can you not be happy when you have the chance to drive an F1 car every two weeks? I get paid to do the job I dreamed of as a child. I know we are going through a difficult time but there is light at the end of the tunnel. I really enjoy driving hard, it’s a great feeling. My time will come.

In F1, it's often about being in the right place at the right time. When you see drivers like Lando Norris et Alexander albon, whom you beat in F2 last year, getting noticed, aren't you afraid of missing out?

Thank you… I have no worries. At the end of the day, I know that my career depends on a small minority of people, namely Claire (Williams. Editor's note) and Williams' upper management, as well as Toto (Wolff, boss of Mercedes, Russell being part of the young driver sector of the German manufacturer. Editor’s note) and the leaders of Mercedes. Only they know the situation and know exactly if I'm doing a good job. And I am the first to be self-critical. I have already said to myself that I could have done better at the end of a weekend where I had achieved the same result as the previous round. Afterwards, I'm happy for Lando and Alex. It’s nice to see a young generation emerging. This shows that we are able to compete with more experienced drivers. If they shine, it also reflects on me in a positive way.

Do you compare your performances to that of your teammate Robert Kubica?

No way. My goal is to get the most out of the car and get the best out of myself. If this translates favorably compared to my teammate, so much the better, but that is not the objective.
Aren't you annoyed by the rumors that you and Robert don't have the same chassis? Doesn’t this bring your strong performance into disrepute?
Everyone has the right to have their opinions. I tend not to pay attention to what is said in the press. I hear things here and there, or people report them to me, but I prefer to concentrate on my job. The rest doesn't affect me at all.

What relationship do you have with Robert?

Excellent. We get on very well. I think it's because we are at very different stages in our careers. There is a lot of transparency between us. We have the same technical feedback on the problems that slow down the car, the areas for improvement, and the direction to follow. We are very united on this front.

Photos © DPPI