"Demanding" Russell 'only thinks about the team'

George Russell

"Demanding" Russell 'only thinks about the team'

Russell will race for Mercedes this year

Ian Parkes & Ewan Gale

Tuesday 4 January 2022 17:15

Williams CEO and team principal Jost Capito has praised George Russell's "demanding" work ethic and his unselfish nature.

Russell has joined Mercedes for the new F1 season after a three-year education with Williams in which he helped raise the team from the bottom of the table to eighth last year with numerous points finishes and consistent qualifying performances.

Much has been made of what the Grove-based team will lose as the Briton makes the step up to replace Valtteri Bottas at the constructors' champions with Capito highlighting Russell's 'pushy' nature as one example.

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Speaking in an end-of-season interview with GPFans, Capito said: "I think George has huge respect from all the team members and he is demanding.

"If he wants to get something done on the car, he really pushes [for it], and if he wants to get something done in the team he is pushing but always in a very positive way.

"I never heard a bad word from him all year, still being very direct in what he wants and what he expects. I think that is a fantastic attitude of George.

"Nicky is very much the same, so character-wise they're very much the same and everybody likes working with them.

"They've also created a very good relationship with George and with Nicky, but also what was very important for the team and that is George is not there, 'I'm the better driver here so everything is done the way I want'.

"He is really great team player as well. He knows that he wants to win and he wants to be the best, but he always is thinking about his teammate as well."

Williams Hungarian GP success proves Russell attitude

Williams broke its two-year points duck in Hungary last season with a double score for Russell and Latifi, with the Canadian finishing ahead.

Recounting a team radio message from Russell during the race, Capito continued: "Once in the race when he was behind and the strategy was that he pits first, he came on the radio and said, 'let's put the focus on Nicky and give the best for him' and that was not he was asked for.

"Whatever he's thinking about this during the race, he's only thinking about the team in general and also about his teammate. I think his personal attitude is absolutely fantastic."