Russell reveals torrent of abuse from Kubica fans

George Russell has revealed that he routinely receives online abuse from Polish fans of Robert Kubica.

After winning the Formula 2 championship last season, Russell earned a promotion to F1 with Wiliams where he would partner the returning Robert Kubica, who has made a miraculous recovery from a career-threatening rally accident which cost him part of his forearm.

The duo have been, by some distance, the most uncompetitive team in 2019, having accumulated just one point between them (earned by Kubica in Germany), meaning that they are effectively competing just against each other more often than not.

Russell has regularly outperformed his older colleague, with rumours circulating that he perhaps has a better car than Kubica.

Williams have denied these claims, but it still hasn’t sheltered the Brit from receiving abuse from partisan Kubica fans.

"It's a little bit hurtful that 50% of the comments on my posts are hate from Polish supporters, whereas the other 50% is complete support for me,” Russell told Autosport.

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"I mean, I do truly only care about the view from inside what Williams think of me, what Mercedes think of me.

"But you also want to be respected from outside.

"I've not come across anyone who's disrespecting me, or giving any hate to me, who are not from Poland.

"So, I appreciate the situation and I can only hope one day I have fans as passionate as his."

Russell is a member of Mercedes' junior driver academy, and has been tipped to earn a seat with the Silver Arrows in the future.

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