George Russell out to drive ROKiT Williams Racing ‘back to where they belong’ in F1

George Russell
REUTERS/Edgar Su

The foyer of ROKiT Williams Racing headquarters in Oxfordshire is a fitting summary for the plight of the once-benchmark team of Formula One.

Where the team’s most iconic cars once stood, the sound of drilling envelopes the gateway to Frank Williams’ outfit as a complete rebuild takes shape. After a season in which they finished rock bottom with just seven championship points, Williams have overhauled their driver line-up, hoping a fairytale return for Robert Kubica from what had been feared to be career-ending injuries may rub off on the team.

In addition, the team have turned to their first British driver since Jenson Button in 2000, with rookie George Russell, a 21-year-old who sealed the job with a powerpoint presentation to then technical director Paddy Lowe, hopeful of becoming the next Lewis Hamilton. As Mercedes’ reserve driver last season, Russell has acted as a sponge towards Hamilton, whose achievements he aims to emulate. “As a driver, you want to become a Formula One world champion,” he said. “That’s everyone’s dream and Lewis is one of the greatest of all time.”

Growing up, Russell may have worn a mini Michael Schumacher Ferrari racing suit, but it is watching Hamilton first hand that has made the biggest impression on the King’s Lynn-born youngster. “I don’t ask him for advice really,” said Russell. “I use my ears rather than my mouth. The best thing to do is to listen, see what he does off the circuit with the team and engineers. I’ve been hugely privileged to see his data of, say, an amazing pole lap. He’s incredibly talented but still works extremely hard and that was hugely refreshing. He doesn’t just jump in the car and blitz everyone, he has to work at it.”

Russell knows that hopes of a rookie season like Hamilton’s at McLaren in 2007 is unrealistic. Williams ended last season 648 points shy of Mercedes’ tally and have looked woefully off the pace in testing.

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“There’s two new drivers: a rookie and a comeback story in Robert, so the team can start on a clean sheet,” Russell added. “It’s a great opportunity to get the team back to where they belong. But we’re realistic it won’t happen overnight. Obviously, changes are going on at Williams and I’m not going out expecting to be fighting for podiums at Melbourne, but it’s the start of a journey that looks very exciting for the future.”

While Williams might not yet be ready to win, Russell believes he has personally been ready for motorsport’s top flight for two years. As a GP3 winner and an F2 winner in his rookie seasons, he has emulated some star names already on the grid.

“I’ve known what to expect for two years, so I’ve not been thrown in the deep end,” he said. “Sure, it’s full-on, but I’ve been ready in case I got the call out of the blue to say you’re in for this test. And in this sport you have to take every opportunity you get, you never get a second chance.”

Russell was the creator of his own chance, aware of a potential window at Williams and calling former Mercedes technical chief Lowe out of the blue to ask for a meeting. In it, he effectively sold himself with a powerpoint presentation after the F2 triple header in which he sealed pole in every race and won two. Rather than focus on poles and wins, though, he sold himself for his ability to out qualify team-mates and gain positions in all races and formulae. “I thought I’d go for it, throw my opinion on the table for why I deserve the seat,” he said. “You only get one chance to make a first impression. My presentation aimed to read through the lines and show I’m the sort of driver to help a team develop and that I understand the bigger picture of F1.”

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Russell may look as though he might be at ease in a boy band but boasts a maturity that has already impressed the Williams hierarchy in the build-up to this weekend’s Australian Grand Prix. Melbourne marks the realisation of a dream for Russell, dad Steve and mum Alison and he is not ashamed to admit the tears flowed when he broke the news of his Williams drive to them. “I’ve worked my whole life for this, but this is zero, it starts again,” he said. “I can’t be complacent or else there might be a new driver with a powerpoint presentation to try to kick me out of my seat. I can’t afford to slip up if I want to stay. This is just the start. If I want to become champion, it begins here.”

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