Why George Russell is ready to fight for F1 titles

Now in his third season with the team, George Russell is still searching for his first point at Williams. But with the confidence resulting from his standout Sakhir GP display in the Mercedes last year, he feels ready for if – or when – he gets a seat that will allow him to challenge not just for points, but world championship titles

Alex Kalinauckas Jun 4, 2021, 6:46 AM

George Russell cuts a rather relaxed figure. The 23-year-old is leaning against a fence lining one side of the narrow pathway between the Williams motorhome and the edge of the Monaco Grand Prix paddock. Beyond is another small walkway, and then it’s the harbour, filled with excess and glistening in the sun.

This is how Autosport finds Russell. He’s just finished a TV interview, the Wednesday before the race given over to the necessary distractions of a Formula 1 driver’s life. He’s chatty, friendly and calm. We’re struck by his general sense of ease – at one point as we’re setting up, a fan passes him a boat fender to sign. “I hope that’s waterproof!” he laughs (hand sanitiser quickly provided once this exchange has finished, such is the way of the world in 2021).

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Author Alex Kalinauckas

Alex Kalinauckas is Autosport's Grand Prix Editor, covering every Formula 1 race since the start of 2020. After completing a master's degree in journalism at Goldsmiths College University of London in 2014, he worked for a range of motorsport and technology publications while covering national racing as an Autosport freelancer.

A lifelong motorsport fan - no one in his family can explain quite how or why such a development first occurred - Alex joined the Autosport staff in April 2017 as the magazine’s Assistant Editor covering Formula 2 and GP3, before being made Formula E correspondent and Autosport.com’s Plus Editor in March 2018. He lives in north-east London and is constantly frustrated by the Central Line.