George Russell: “I can beat anyone on this grid”
After a season start that was less flamboyant than his teammate Lewis Hamilton's, George Russell explains his way of functioning at Mercedes as well as his desire to find the right balance.
This start of the season has not been ideal for Mercedes, and even less so for George Russell. The British driver is far behind his teammate Lewis Hamilton in the championship: 121 points for the seven-time world champion compared to 82 for George Russell, in 6th place in the championship. Moreover, he has only been on the podium once, in Spain, compared to four times for Hamilton.
Nothing too alarming for George Russell, in a temperamental Mercedes. However, it is undeniable that he is one step below Hamilton in this first half of the season, and he explains why.
Russell starts overthinking
In the early stages of the season where performance with Mercedes is not at its maximum compared to Red Bull, it is important, and even necessary, to find the best settings for the car to maximize results. According to George Russell, this can resemble a vicious cycle where drivers can get trapped in details that ultimately become almost useless.
« We often fall into the trap of wanting to work more on the finest details, » explained Russell, before adding: « We work even harder and sometimes we complicate things too much, which is counterproductive. »
Russell believes it is necessary to get back to the essence of motor racing, without focusing on the details. « I think it is sometimes important not to overthink. It is enough to get back to the essentials and work on the processes with the team », he said.
Finding the right balance
Faced with this issue, which does not allow Russell to be fully competitive this season for now, it is crucial to focus on oneself and the car. « What I need as a driver is to maximize my performances and what I expect from the car, and not to overthink », he explained.
It is also a question of balance: studying and taking care of details, but without overdoing it, which can take you out of the car race. « Therefore, it’s about finding the right balance, as I always strive to do more. »
For George Russell, it is essential to fully get back on track before the summer break. « I know that, once I tick all those boxes, I can beat anyone on this grid and I think it’s important to tick those boxes. »
