George Russell finds motivation in Max Verstappen’s extended wait for a shot at Formula 1 title glory, believing his ‘time will come’ too.
Mercedes driver George Russell is drawing hope from Max Verstappen’s journey in Formula 1. Despite being the youngest driver to race in F1 at just 17 years, five months, and 15 days, Verstappen had to wait until his seventh season to compete for the championship. His debut win at the 2016 Spanish Grand Prix was followed by a series of seasons where he could only secure nine more victories, as Lewis Hamilton and Mercedes dominated the sport.
Russell, who has found success in junior categories, has managed only one victory since joining F1 with Williams in 2019. That win came in a one-two finish for Mercedes at the 2022 Sao Paulo Grand Prix. Looking at Verstappen’s path, as well as the longevity of other drivers like Fernando Alonso, gives Russell confidence that he still has time to hit his peak.
Russell shared, ‘What gives me hope is that Max was in his seventh season when he [first] fought for a title. I’m in my sixth, I’m 26, and Fernando Alonso is 43 [in July]. Seeing him perform as he is, I see no reason why I can’t go into my forties, so I know my time will come. I’m not worried at all.’
Recently, Verstappen and Red Bull have been challenged by McLaren’s Lando Norris and Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc, who won in Miami and Monaco respectively. Despite the struggles Mercedes has faced under the new ground-effect regulations, Russell remains optimistic about the future. He commented, ‘I believe we will get our chance. Now it is Max’s chance, but for the first six years it wasn’t, which was frustrating for him. I have to keep working hard and not lose motivation because you don’t know when that chance will come. Lando, Charles, and I have won races, but none of us has had the chance to fight for championships.’
Russell’s optimism is fueled by the knowledge that the right opportunity can come with patience and perseverance, just as it did for Verstappen.
Source: Planetf1
