George Russell seeking "four-wheel" test before F1 season opener

George Russell

Russell seeking "four-wheel" test before F1 season opener

Williams driver has even started juggling to keep his mind sharp

Sam Hall

Wednesday 27 May 2020 10:02 Updated: 10:44

Williams driver George Russell is hoping to test "anything that's got four wheels'" before returning to Formula 1 action.

Pre-season testing for the 2020 F1 season ended on February 28, and no driver has returned to the cockpit since.

Russell, who enters his second F1 campaign in 2020, feels that in an ideal world, time would be made for an additional day of testing before beginning the season in anger.

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“That’s something I’ll really be trying to do,” Russell told Sky Sports F1. “I think realistically karting will be the first opportunity I get. As soon as I can, I’ll be karting.

“But ultimately I want to try and jump in a Formula 1 car before we go back racing again.

"So whether that’s in a Williams or in a Mercedes, we have to wait and see, just to get some laps under our belt, but it may even be in a Formula 3 or Formula 2 car as well.

"Anything that’s got four wheels and can go around a race track I think will be better than nothing.”

Although motorsport enjoys a unique position where simulators can be used to keep race sharp, nothing can entirely prepare the body for the forces of a Formula 1 car. In this respect, any time spent on track will be vital.

Russell added: “Unlike other sports, [with] motorsport, I don't think there are any drivers with a race circuit and a Formula 1 car in their back garden.

"It’s not like a footballer who can just go out and kick a football and do their own trade.

“It’s very difficult. I’m doing everything I can in the gym I’ve got here, cardio-wise, either running or cycling.

"Also from a mental standpoint, [I'm] just trying to keep myself occupied, doing things like learning to juggle and stay on the ball as much as I can.

"I've recently invested in more top quality simulator equipment and started not only to do it for fun, but actually started training on there and thinking 'You know what? This is the closest I've got to reality and I need to just stay sharp and be ready for whenever we go back."

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