Russell: I didn’t come to Mercedes for quick success

In an interview with Auto Motor und Sport, Mercedes drivers George Russell spoke about the team’s progress, the partnership with Lewis Hamilton and long-term plans…

Q: You moved from Williams to Mercedes. Excited to compete regularly for points and podiums, or did you expect more?
George Russell: Fifth place might not surprise me, but I’m not disappointed because I think we’re making the most of our chances. In one or two races we could finish one position higher, but most of the time we reached the max. We know we are making progress, which makes us optimistic.

Q: But did you expect completely different results from Mercedes?
George Russell: We understood that success is not guaranteed. But I was sure that if we were behind at the beginning of the season, this team would be able to come back. And so it happens.

I did not come to Mercedes to achieve quick success, I commit my future to this team. This is the best place for me to have a good chance in the future of five to ten years.

Q: In Williams you had to fight for every point. So was it easier for you at Mercedes than for Lewis Hamilton to deal with a failed car?
George Russell: Apparently so, as my results improved and his got worse. But Lewis is still very fraught. This challenge motivates him even more. He has not slowed down and is not going to end his career. There is an incredible fire burning in it, which makes me constantly give my best.

Q: At first it looked like the advantage was on your side, then the situation changed…
George Russell: Sometimes you get good results and you don’t know why. Sometimes the opposite happens. In Montreal I risked riding slicks in qualifying and didn’t make the podium. In Austria, damage to the front wing in contact with Perez did not allow me to finish in the top three. It’s little things, but that got me behind Lewis. But I am constantly learning. Every round, every turn counts.

Question: Do you always compare yourself to your teammate?
George Russell: In Formula 1 you have a lot of information, but if you rely too much on numbers, you instinctively stop driving the car. The numbers allow you to evaluate the whole picture, to see those areas where it is faster.

You can’t just copy the approach, so slightly different settings are needed. You have to make the most of what works for you. If I set up the car in the best way for me, I can beat anyone. I don’t focus on Lewis, I think about what I need from the tires, from the car, from the engine.

Q: What surprised you in Hamilton?
George Russell: I wouldn’t say I was surprised. I expected him to be exceptional in all areas. You can’t expect less from a rider of this size. As a driver I already knew him. I followed him all my life. But off the track, he really surprised me. He gets along very well with people.

Q: Mercedes engineers are actively experimenting with settings, who ultimately decides which of you gets a bigger rear wing?
George RussellA: Everyone on the team is very open, including me and Lewis to each other. When one wants to try something, the other says try it and I’ll do the opposite. If the idea works, the advantage is given to the rider who put it on the car. Or vice versa. That’s how it’s arranged. As a team, we are now very actively experimenting. And the more we learn, the greater the chance that a solution will be found.

Q: Can you win the race this season?
George Russell: This machine has great potential. The technical guideline, which will come into effect after the break, should affect teams using flexible bottoms. We are closing the gap, especially at race pace. If we continue in the same vein, we can fight for victories.

Q: What is the advantage of Ferrari and Red Bull over Mercedes?
George Russell: Red Bull cars are very fast on the straights, have less drag. I’ve heard why this could be.

Ferrari has more downforce than we do. They just have a faster car. There is no specific area where they are better, they are better at everything. We, Ferrari and Red Bull have a different concept of the car.

Q: Why didn’t the car get the fastest when the team solved the build problem?
George Russell: Solving the build-up problem negatively impacted its effectiveness. Too negative. And if we are now in the process of increasing the speed, there is a risk that the build-up will come back. To achieve maximum efficiency, we will have to swallow the construction this year. The same can be said about Ferrari.

Q: Once after Williams in Mercedes, don’t you think you are in a technical paradise?
George Russell: This team has an incredible culture. It’s constantly evolving: I’ve never seen this at Williams.

But Williams has been through a very difficult time. Change of owners, departure of technical directors and heads of the aerodynamics department. There have been many changes.

Mercedes is a strong team that grows every year. I really enjoy being a part of this engineering machine.