Russell: Those around me are aware of the situation

By the time Frank Williams celebrates 50 years of team leadership in F1 (first with Brabham chassis in 1969 before the great history of Williams Racing), the Grove team does not appear in the best of form this season.

The English team is dragging its FW42s, which arrived late to winter testing, in the last positions on the starting grids, without major progress since the start of the 2019 campaign in Melbourne, Australia. More behind the scenes, Paddy lowe, arrived with the intention of relaunching a training program that was losing momentum, packed up after having been sidelined for a while.

In the middle of this bleak picture, George Russell, FIA champion F2 and placed by Mercedes, tries to demonstrate his talent at the wheel of a car not allowing him to shine for the places of honor.

Despite everything, the Briton's performances remain widely scrutinized by those around him, well aware of the current situation at Grove. Enough to reassure Russell in the perspective of the evolution of his career.

“I know that only a small number of people will make a difference in my career, mentions the Norfolk native. It's Claire and the coaching of Williams and Toto (Wolff) and Mercedes management. At the end of the day, these people are fully aware of the situation.

They know exactly if I had a good weekend or not. And even on a personal level, I've come away from some races where I know I performed well, and I've come away satisfied, and others where I've come away knowing I could have done a better job, even if I ended up in the same position (as at the start). »

Asked about the future of her protégé, Claire Williams, Deputy Team Principal of Williams Racing, is full of praise for the Briton, and intends to build the renewal of her team around the young talent, who could well be the target other teams.

“We have never discussed the possibility of George leaving the team in the short term because he has a long-term contract with us, comments Claire Williams. He has what it takes to be world champion.

I would do everything possible to keep George Russell at Williams. My ambition is that one day we can provide him with a car where, in stages, he can start racing at the top of the mid-grid and then hope to get on podiums. It will take time, obviously, but we must have ambition. »

We will also have to give ourselves the means to achieve these ambitions at Williams, which has however already been able to count on the renewed support of Rokit, its title sponsor for the coming years.