Russell keen to battle it out with the best in the business
GEORGE Russell says there is no extra pressure in taking on Lewis Hamilton at Mercedes and insists he is ready to showcase his ability to the world in pursuit of being crowned champion.
The Brit will begin the first of his final four races as a Williams driver at this weekend’s Brazilian Grand Prix before his high-profile move to the Silver Arrows next season.
The 23-year-old, whose deal to replace Valtteri Bottas at the grid’s all-conquering team was announced in September, is set to form a tantalising all-British partnership with seven-time world champion Hamilton.
“The biggest challenge next year will be going directly up against the greatest driver of all time,” Russell said.
“But I am in such an amazing position because I can learn from Lewis and test myself against the best. Who wouldn’t want to be in that position?
“To be honest, it almost takes the pressure off. He is a proven great, but I believe in myself, I have high expectations and I have an amazing opportunity to show the world what I can do.
“And that is why I am so relaxed because I am going to a place where I couldn’t have wished for a better environment ahead of my fourth year in Formula One.”
Russell has thrived during his apprenticeship at Williams. He heads to Interlagos able to extend his extraordinary unbeaten record against teammates’ Robert Kubica (21-0) and Nicholas Latifi (34-0) in qualifying.
Russell delivered one of the most memorable one-lap displays of recent memory when he put his uncompetitive Williams on the front row of the rain-hit Belgian Grand Prix in August. He then followed that up by qualifying third a month later in Russia.