Russell driven to match role model Cristiano
GEORGE RUSSELL needs far less than the average duration of a Formula One pit stop to identify his greatest sporting role model.
And while this particular character loves his fast cars, Russell’s inspiration is not from the world of motor racing but from a certain Manchester United superstar.
“(Cristiano) Ronaldo is the clear one who I really admire,” declares the Mercedes driver.
“I admire his determination – he has given absolutely everything to be the very best of his sport.
“He has got one goal and one vision and that is to be the best.
“Year after year he keeps coming back fitter, stronger and better than ever. That is inspiring to see.”
Russell, 24, is rapidly becoming not just a poster boy for Formula One but a poster boy for the whole of British sport.
But despite the unrivalled glamour of Grand Prix racing, clean-cut Russell is unlikely to be distracted by the offthe-track temptations.
He explains: “I am young and fit, I feel good but you still have to keep putting the work in and that will pay dividends in 10 years time when I am probably past my physical peak.
“A guy like
Ronaldo should be an inspiration to a lot of people. They are all choices at the end of the day.
“I say, ‘You can have anything you want in the world but you can’t have everything you want in the world’.
“He wants one thing, to be the best footballer on the planet.
“I want to be world champion so I’m living my dream.
“Maybe a lot of people who are 24 years old want to be out on the town and having a few drinks but I know I am not going to be a world champion if I do that.”
Alas, the chances of him or Lewis Hamilton being world champion this year are slim and none due to the ongoing struggles of the Silver Arrows – even though Russell has finished in the top five in all nine races.
And while his reputation has been enhanced by the way he has outperformed Hamilton for most of this season, that is certainly not a cause for him to celebrate.
He says: “I would not see my season as a success purely because I’ve finished ahead of him more times than he had finished ahead of me.
“I would see it as a success if I was standing at the top step of the podium.”
And you never know, if Russell can channel his inner Ronaldo (inset), that might just happen at Silverstone this afternoon.