Departing drivers 'won’t care if they bash up cars' in season finale - Russell

George Russell has suggested this weekend’s season finale in Abu Dhabi could see drivers taking risks and not worrying if they “bash up” their cars because so many are moving on next year.

McLaren’s Carlos Sainz, Renault’s Daniel Ricciardo and Racing Point’s Sergio Perez will all have their final races for their respective teams who are fighting for third in the constructors' championship.

Williams driver Russell believes the gloves will be off for the final round of the top-three battle. He said: “It gets to the last race of the season and everybody up and down the grid gets a bit desperate.

“There are a few teams fighting for that P3 spot, so we might see some big lunges from Carlos - who is obviously off to Ferrari, so he probably won't care if he bashes up the car.

"Danny Ric is off so he probably doesn't care if he bashes up the car. Sergio is off so he won't care if he bashes up the car. It could be a good one.“

Russell, who has returned to Williams after a one-off race for Mercedes as a replacement for Lewis Hamilton, believes the end-of-season atmosphere could be a chance for him to finally secure a point for the team that gave him his F1 debut.

"We will be trying our everything,” he added. “On pure pace, we know we won't be fighting for the top 10. We were struggling for pace today, but that is usually the case. We are usually a bit off on Friday and sort it out on Saturday.

“These guys at Williams, they gave me the opportunity, they have worked so hard over the last two years and it is my duty to send off the season on a high and that is what I am here to do."

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