George Russell reveals how Williams' 2020 car hindered Mercedes debut

George Russell first drove for Mercedes as a one-off stand-in during the 2020 Sakhir Grand Prix, a race he was unlucky to not win.

George Russell file photo, Image credit: Twitter
By Shayne Dias | Jan 22, 2022 | 3 Min Read follow icon Follow Us

When George Russell makes his debut as a full-time Mercedes driver in 2022, he will do so knowing he’s had the experience of driving the car in a race situation once before.

Russell first drove for Mercedes as a one-off stand-in during the 2020 Sakhir Grand Prix; he got this chance due to Lewis Hamilton testing positive for COVID-19.

It was a race that showcased his speed to the world; indeed, he didn’t win it only due to poor luck. But the switch from a backmarker Williams to the front-running Mercedes did not prove easy.

And, according to Russell himself, his experience driving the Williams made his Mercedes debut a lot harder.

“One big learning is that every car is different and what held me back actually with Mercedes were the limitations at Williams,” Russell was quoted as saying by The Race.

“So in the Williams you couldn’t brake late and turn the steering wheel at the same time – so that combined braking into the corner – because your car wouldn’t be able to handle it.

“I’d often lock a tyre or lose a wheel so you would find yourself braking a little bit earlier to try and keep the car under control as you approach the corner.

“The Mercedes was so robust you could afford to brake so late and carry your speed into the corner and be aggressive.

“And that took me time to understand and it was actually only maybe halfway through the race that I was able to match Valtteri at that corner. Every lap I was losing at Turn 1 because I just didn’t know the car was capable of that.”

George Russell on 2022 challenge

What’s more, he said he knew he could not drive his Williams the way he drove the Mercedes.

“So I went back to Williams knowing that I can’t drive a Williams as I drove a Mercedes. That was a really great experience [in terms of] what I can do to improve my driving – and actually learning to deal with a loss from a victory.

“That was the first time in my Formula 1 career where I felt that pain of losing out on a victory and trying to bounce back from that. I’m sure it won’t be the last time.”

He also spoke of what it is he expects in terms of developing the cars for the next season. Formula 1 in 2022 will feature new regulations that changes the sport. As such, every team is starting the year with a clean slate.

For his part, Russell expects teams to try out a few new and interesting car designs.

“I am looking forward to being part of the development of a car that will be progressing drastically throughout a season. So working with the designers, working on the simulator, putting lots of work in to progress.

“I am sure it won’t necessarily be who is quickest at race one will win, it will be who races fastest. There will be some interesting designs out there; there might be some underdogs who prevail in the opening tests or races.”