Russell reveals mental challenges of Covid-affected season
Russell reveals mental challenges of Covid-affected season
Williams driver George Russell has revealed the mental challenges he was forced to contend with during the Covid-hit 2020 Formula 1 season.
The campaign was delayed from March to July due to the global pandemic, with a revised calendar congesting 17 races into a six-month period.
With multiple restrictions in place as the sport travelled between Europe and the Middle East, personnel were required to remain within carefully monitored bubbles.
Explaining the issues to GPFans Global, Russell said: "It was incredibly difficult, not seeing friends, family. Being locked away in my flat.
"It was a sacrifice I was willing to take because ultimately, Formula 1 is my life and it is the most important thing to me.
"There are a lot of worse positions to be in but we are all human at the end of the day, we need this interaction and not having it is difficult and that's why everybody was looking forward to going back to families and living a normal life.
"Formula 1, we already live in a bubble. Everyone used to say before Covid that Formula 1 is a big bubble, it is our real life. All of a sudden, you have bubbles within bubbles and you can't exit the bubble so it is tricky."
Russell was not without his own Covid scares after undertaking extra tests when trainer Aleix Casanovas self-isolated ahead of the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix at Imola.
But whilst the British driver was able to complete all 17 races, he conceded his mood fluctuated throughout the season.
"As everyone, you have your good days and your bad days," he added. "I am fortunate that I do have a great team of people around me.
"My trainer Aleix, people at Williams, my engineers, my friends and family who I obviously speak to daily to help get through, and to be honest, last season was just relentless.
"In some ways, we have been fortunate that we have been able to do this with the people we get along with and almost have a normal life away from home."
Related
Change your timezone:
Latest News
Ferrari show off new-look drivers following HUGE announcement
- 59 minutes ago
McLaren leading fight for HUGE cash injection
- 1 hour ago
Newey set to announce STUNNING Red Bull departure
- Today 17:57
Newey Red Bull exit wish CONFIRMED as F1 guru's reasons revealed
- 2 hours ago
F1 legend reveals 'FLOOD' of death threats after controversial decision
- 3 hours ago
Adrian Newey: The life and career of Red Bull's departing genius
- Today 19:32
Related news
F1 champion claims team may WRITE OFF Chinese GP sprint race
Schumacher fires scary message at F1 team boss as worst fears CONFIRMED
FIA slammed for 'ridiculous' Russell investigation
F1 team hire former Man Utd and Chelsea supremo
F1 Standings
Drivers
- Oliver Bearman
- Charles Leclerc
- Carlos Sainz
- Lando Norris
- Oscar Piastri
- Pierre Gasly
- Esteban Ocon
- Sergio Pérez
- Max Verstappen
- Alexander Albon
- Logan Sargeant
- Lewis Hamilton
- George Russell
- Nico Hülkenberg
- Kevin Magnussen
- Fernando Alonso
- Lance Stroll
- Valtteri Bottas
- Zhou Guanyu
- Daniel Ricciardo
- Yuki Tsunoda
Races
- Gulf Air Grand Prix of Bahrain 2024
- Saudi Arabian Grand Prix 2024
- Grand Prix of Australia 2024
- MSC Cruises Grand Prix of Japan 2024
- Grand Prix of China 2024
- Miami Grand Prix 2024
- Gran Premio dell'Emilia Romagna 2024
- Grand Prix of Monaco 2024
- Grand Prix du Canada 2024
- Gran Premio de España 2024
- Grand Prix of Austria 2024
- Grand Prix of Great Britain 2024
- Grand Prix of Hungary 2024
- Grand Prix of Belgium 2024
- Heineken Dutch Grand Prix 2024
- Grand Prix of Italy 2024
- Grand Prix of Azerbaijan 2024
- Grand Prix of Singapore 2024
- Grand Prix of the United States 2024
- Gran Premio de la Ciudad de Mexico 2024
- Grande Prêmio de São Paulo 2024
- Heineken Silver Las Vegas Grand Prix 2024
- Qatar Grand Prix 2024
- Grand Prix of Abu Dhabi 2024
About GPFans
GPFans is a multi-platform, multi-language brand dedicated to Formula One coverage. We bring you all the ins and outs of the sport, 24/7, everything from up-to-the-minute news and features to the latest viral stories and clips.We believe that a new generation of exciting, outspoken drivers will make F1 more popular than ever before, and we want to give our users access to as much of their heroes as possible, on and off the track. From Lewis Hamilton to Max Verstappen, Daniel Ricciardo to Sebastian Vettel, we provide in-depth analysis of every every Grand Prix in the season, from Australia to Abu Dhabi.
With Formula One under the new ownership of Liberty Media, how the sport is being covered is evolving, and GPFans will look to be at the heart of this progression into new media, as one of the fastest-growing sites covering the king of motorsports.
Follow us on your favorite social media channel
Corporate & Media
Innovatieweg 20C7007 CD, Doetinchem, Netherlands
+31645516860