George Russell, Williams, Silverstone, 2021

Having no chance to win ‘obviously frustrating’ for Russell

2021 British Grand Prix

Posted on

| Written by and

George Russell says he had to make peace with not winning races after moving into Formula 1 from junior categories.

When he arrived in F1 with Williams in 2019, Russell was the reigning Formula 2 champion and had won the GP3 (now Formula 3) title the year before. However he is yet to score a point with Williams, only finishing in the top 10 during his one-off drive for Mercedes in last year’s Sakhir Grand Prix.

He said that accepting his limited opportunity to challenge for wins was “something I’ve almost made my peace with” in the three years since his debut.

“It was very clear growing up, from when I was eight years old until I got to Formula 1, the goal was to win,” he said in response to a question from RaceFans. “[Whether] you had a successful weekend was based on if you put it on pole and then won the races or not.

“Then suddenly in F1, those goals drastically changed.”

The Mercedes junior driver acknowledged his situation is no different from that of other drivers not in a Mercedes or Red Bull seat.

“It is obviously a bit frustrating not getting the chance to go out there and really fight,” he said. “But that’s the same for 16 of the drivers in Formula 1.

“There’s only four drivers on the grid, currently, who on merit can probably win a race. Which is obviously deeply frustrating for everybody else.”

He is hopeful the new technical regulations for the 2022 F1 season, an example of which was presented yesterday, will make for more competitive races.

“That’s why we’re all excited for for next year. We just want good competition and close competition.”

Advert | Become a RaceFans supporter and go ad-free

2021 British Grand Prix

Browse all 2021 British Grand Prix articles

10 comments on “Having no chance to win ‘obviously frustrating’ for Russell”

  1. Yep, a pretty common theme for many drivers. Some will spend a decade or more in the sport and never win a race (Hulkenberg and Heidfeld are the prominent recent examples). It’d be even more disheartening to never even compete for podiums… Surely Russell will get his chance sooner rather than later.

  2. Biskit Boy (@sean-p-newmanlive-co-uk)
    16th July 2021, 8:21

    Mercedes must realise this is there future number 1. Its a crime he’s not driving for them this year. If he doesn’t next year it would be insanity.

  3. Euh is this not the case of F1 of all times?
    His mistake is going to Williams when they were at the bottum. He should go to Force India back when he came to F1.
    Now he has to wait untill there is room but it looks like Lando could get a win somewhere.

    1. RandomMallard (@)
      16th July 2021, 10:11

      @macleod There was an opening at Williams, not at Racing Point/Force India. Perez had a contract and had just helped save the team by putting them into administration, and there was no way anyone other than Lance Stroll was getting the other seat considering his dad owns the team. Meanwhile at Williams, Sirotkin had been dropped and Steoll had departed so there was space. It was Williams or nothing for Russell in F1 at that point.

  4. Last time, they had saved up enough for the Cursebreaker, but they were denied by Spain in the end.

    1. RandomMallard (@)
      16th July 2021, 11:59

      This weekend, I can just see Giovanazzi (Italian) getting 10th place ahead of Russell after Russell picks up a penalty. I can just see it…

      1. Ahah, I guess cause of their nationality, on a follow up from football!

      2. …until the next race at Hungary where Williams get a Top 10 after Alfa Romeo get Hockenheim’d…but both are there.

  5. Put him in a Merc!

  6. George, it’s James. Even securing second seat at Mercedes won’t change it much. Unless Lewis have a problem or damaged car. But we still need to review that.

Comments are closed.