GP3 winner Russell has a drive for the future
‘I think for the next season everything is tight in F1, unfortunately for me’
There is a spark in the eyes of George Russell and why shouldn’t there be? With the 2017 GP3 title firmly tucked under his belt before the final round, the 19-yearold Englishman is on a high and is already dreaming big.
With four wins, six podium finishes and three pole positions Russell is the eighth GP3 champion since the category was created in 2010.
A member of the Mercedes Junior Driver programme, Russell is the latest young man on the fast lane and is looking to using GP3 as a launch pad for his ticket to Formula One.
“Obviously, Formula One is my clear goal,” said Russell.
But with seats at a premium and long list of potential drivers waiting in the wings, he is eyeing a role as a reserve driver. “I think for next season everything is tight in F1, unfortunately for me,” said Russell, who might be now inclined to combine an F2 programme with a reserve-driver role at the Sahara Force India team.
Russell is confident this opportunity will come and it is just as matter of time.
Russell has already tested for two days for world champions Mercedes at Budapest earlier this year. At the most recent Grand Prix in Brazil he was in a Force India car for the first freepractice session. The Hungary test saw him complete no fewer than 209 laps of the tight Hungaroring.