Russell: 2019 not a write-off for Williams

  • Published on 24 May 2019 09:21
  • comments 1
  • By: Fergal Walsh

George Russell says the 2019 season is far from a write-off for the Williams team, despite its lack of pace so far this year.

The Grove squad has been unable to compete with any other team during the opening five races of the season, as it searches to fix the problems that have seen it decline in recent years.

MORE: Williams confident it has improved the FW42Chadwick joins Williams as development driver

Russell pointed out that the gap to the nearest car in Barcelona was reduced, which left him encouraged that the team can extract more from the year.

"It's definitely not a write-off," he said. "The fact is, we've got a huge amount of issues at the moment which we think we can resolve. 

"Barcelona was the first real race of the season, in my opinion. Australia was a street circuit, Bahrain is a very specific circuit at night.

"China was freezing cold and Baku was Baku, we knew it wouldn't suit our car as we are slow on the straights. But Barcelona was probably the first true test, and we were four-tenths away from the next car."

Russell crashed at the end of the final practice session before qualifying but still managed to emerge for qualifying and set a respectable time.

"With all the issues that we've got, considering in FP3 when the guys got the car ready in an hour and a half, we didn' bring as many upgrades as the other teams, it's far from a write-off.

"If we do the job properly, we've got potential to not only close the gap but to fight with some people."

'Who knows' if Williams can score points

Russell added that it was difficult to predict if Williams can score points in 2019.

Last season, when it also ran for most of the year as the grid's backmarkers, it managed to score 7 points between Lance Stroll and Sergey Sirotkin.

"On merit, who knows," Russell commented. "Like I said, it's definitely not a write-off and I think we can salvage something from this.

"We've definitely got a lot of performance in pocket but is a lot a second, 1.5 seconds? We don't know yet."

Replies (1)

Login to reply
  • JuJuHound

    Posts: 352

    I think the balance in Mercedes is under treat due to Bottas agressive attitude. To bring it back Ocon won't help due to his past duels with Perez which effected the team results. I think George is the right guy to join Mercedes.
    Leclerc joined Ferrari after one season, so George can do it also.

    • + 0
    • May 24 2019 - 13:27

BE Grand Prix of Belgium

Local time 21:27

BEGrand Prix of Belgium

Local time 21:27

Test calendar

See full test schedule

World Championship standings 2025

Show full world champion standings

Related news

Give your opinion!

Will Bottas challenge Hamilton for the world championship in 2020?

Formula 1 Calendar - 2025

Date
Grand Prix
Circuit
-
Bahrain
14 - Mar 16
Australia
21 - Mar 23
China
4 - Apr 6
Japan
11 - Apr 13
Bahrain
18 - Apr 20
Saudi Arabia
2 - May 4
United States of America
16 - May 18
Italy
23 - May 25
Monaco
30 - Jun 1
Spain
13 - Jun 15
Canada
27 - Jun 29
Austria
4 - Jul 6
United Kingdom
25 - Jul 27
Belgium
1 - Aug 3
Hungary
29 - Aug 31
Netherlands
5 - Sep 7
Italy
19 - Sep 21
Azerbaijan
3 - Oct 5
Singapore
17 - Oct 19
United States of America
24 - Oct 26
Mexico
7 - Nov 9
Brazil
21 - Nov 23
United States of America
28 - Nov 30
Qatar
5 - Dec 7
United Arab Emirates
See full schedule

Formula 1 Calendar - 2025

Date
Grand Prix & Circuit
14 - Mar 16
Australia Albert Park
21 - Mar 23
4 - Apr 6
11 - Apr 13
18 - Apr 20
Saudi Arabia Jeddah Street Circuit
2 - May 4
United States of America Miami International Autodrome
16 - May 18
23 - May 25
Monaco Monte Carlo
30 - Jun 1
13 - Jun 15
27 - Jun 29
Austria Red Bull Ring
4 - Jul 6
United Kingdom Silverstone
25 - Jul 27
1 - Aug 3
Hungary Hungaroring
29 - Aug 31
Netherlands Circuit Zandvoort
5 - Sep 7
Italy Monza
19 - Sep 21
Azerbaijan Baku City Circuit
3 - Oct 5
17 - Oct 19
United States of America Circuit of the Americas
24 - Oct 26
7 - Nov 9
Brazil Interlagos
21 - Nov 23
United States of America Las Vegas Street Circuit
28 - Nov 30
5 - Dec 7
United Arab Emirates Yas Marina Circuit
See full schedule

Driver profile

  • Team Mercedes
  • Points 748
  • Podiums 17
  • Grand Prix 130
  • Country GB
  • Date of b. Feb 15 1998 (27)
  • Place of b. King's Lynn, GB
  • Weight 70 kg
  • Length 1.85 m
Show full profile

Team profile

Show full profile
show sidebar