Russell: Watching Norris, Albon have more success in rookie year was “difficult”

In brief

Watching fellow rookies enjoy more success in 2019 “difficult” – Russell

Mercedes driver George Russell admits he found it “difficult” to watch fellow rookies Lando Norris and Alexander Albon have more productive seasons during his rookie year at Williams.

Russell entered Formula 1 with Williams in 2019 after winning the previous season’s Formula 2 title. He endured a point-less year with the team who struggled throughout the season with the slowest car on the grid.

Speaking on an episode of the High Performance Podcast, Russell admitted he had struggled watching his fellow rookies have greater success than him in his first year in Formula 1.

“That was a really unique season for my first year in Formula 1, joining Williams and a team that was on the brink of bankruptcy,” Russell said. “Every single race weekend, it was racing to survive – it wasn’t racing to perform, the team was racing to survive and the 800 people’s jobs [were] at stake.

“There was no doubt when I got to the first race in Australia, I’m here in Formula 1 – one dream accomplished – and go out on track and we’re four seconds off the pace, the car’s falling apart and we’re being lapped two or three times. You kind of think to yourself ‘is this the dream?’. But I think I’ve always had quite a rational view to things. And while seeing Alex in a Red Bull scoring podiums and being the man, to a degree, and Lando equally always in the points, that was sort of difficult to digest. Because I’d just come from Formula 2 where I beat them.”

Magnussens take seventh in Gulf 12 Hours

Haas F1 driver Kevin Magnussen and his father, former F1 driver Jan Magnussen, finished seventh in the Gulf 12 Hours at the Yas Marina Circuit yesterday with team mate Mark Kvamme.

The trio logged 332 laps of the circuit in their Ferrari 488 GT3 car over the course of the endurance race, taking seventh overall and earning fifth place in their class. The two Magnussens and Kvamme will team up to race again during next month’s Daytona 24 Hours.

Rally Raid world champion “sure” Alonso will return to Dakar

World Rally Raid champion driver Nasser Al-Attiyah says he is “sure” Fernando Alonso will compete in the famous Dakar Rally again in the future.

The two-time Formula 1 world champion competed in the 2020 Dakar Rally in Saudi Arabia with Toyota. He completed the race in 13th position overall. Carlos Sainz Snr won the race in the cars class.

Asked if he felt Alonso would compete in the race again, Al-Attiyah, who has won the race four times, including this year, said: “I think so, yeah. Because he really loves Dakar. I am sure after maybe next year or two years later, he will come. I am sure.

“I still push Fernando to have him again in Dakar. What he did for the first time in Dakar, he showed speed. In this kind of race you need to have real experience, because if you see the history of Dakar you need to have four or five or six years experience until win when you win.”

Links

Motor racing links of interest:

Calvin Lo: Billionaire businessman exploring plan to set up F1 team for 2026 (BBC)

"Based on what I'm seeing right now, it's highly aspirational, but it seems like it can be done if all the stars are aligned. Based on the timelines, the sooner the better, right? It seems even now is a very tight timeline just to put something on the grid by 2026."

F1’s neighbor near Strip up for sale at nearly $189M (Las Vegas Review Journal)

"For years, tenants at the Harbor Island apartments near the Strip had a sprawling, quiet tract of land next door. Now, Formula 1 is developing a racetrack there — and the rental property’s new landlord is looking to sell for a hefty sum."

The 93 Most Stylish ‘People’ of 2022 (New York Times)

"It was a bad year for British Formula 1 driver Lewis Hamilton on the track. But he was far more successful when it came to getting dressed, wearing Valentino pink suiting on the cover of Vanity Fair’s September issue, Kenzo and Versace knits in the pit lane and, to the chagrin of the sport’s governing body, lots (and lots) of bling."

Hyderabad to host Formula E in February despite racing league hiccups (The Hindu)

"An FIA inspector was present to inspect the track and was happy with the circuit. He was on a two-day visit during the weekend and suggested some very small changes which we will carry out in the coming days."

Formula E and UNICEF: placing children at the forefront of climate action (Formula E)

"As the first global sport organisation to support UNICEF’s climate programmes, Formula E continues to help us raise awareness and vital funds for children around the world. Together, we are driving better futures for every child and we are on track to help three million children worldwide live in a safer and cleaner environment by the end of 2023."

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Social media

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Welcome to Enstone, @PierreGASLY 💙#Alpine pic.twitter.com/v4cGFhNHQ7

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2022 had its ups and downs, but we always tried to have a laugh 😂

Here are the bits you didn’t see 😅 #HaasF1 pic.twitter.com/FfAXuHGRZP

— MoneyGram Haas F1 Team (@HaasF1Team) December 11, 2022

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Comment of the day

This weekend’s Caption Competition winner is @ninjabadger!:

Gordon Ramsay had to come out personally to remind drivers their steaks do not come “medium-softs”.
NinjaBadger

Thanks to everyone who came up with caption idea this week and a special mention to Keith Campbell, Red Andy, and Fraiser who all came up with particularly good captions.

Happy birthday!

Happy birthday to Andrew Hey, Christian Andrade, Rigi and Topher Smith!

On this day in motorsport

• One year ago today Max Verstappen won the world championship in a controversial finale, overtaking Lewis Hamilton after race director Michael Masi broke the rules by arranging a last-lap restart