Motorsport Week
  • Formula 1
    • Formula 1 Calendar
    • Championship Standings
    • Team/Driver Line-Up
    • Session Results
  • Formula E
    • Championship Standings
    • Formula E Calendar
    • Session Results
  • WRC
    • WRC Calendar
    • Championship Standings
  • MotoGP
    • MotoGP Calendar
    • Team/Rider Line-Up
    • Championship Standings
  • IndyCar
    • IndyCar Calendar
    • Championship Standings
  • WEC
    • WEC Calendar
  • More
    • IMSA
    • Formula 2
    • Formula 3
    • NASCAR
    • DTM
    • WSeries
    • Extreme E
    • Dakar
    • Technical Insight
    • Galleries
    • About/Contact
    • Privacy Policy
No Result
View All Result
  • Login
  • Register
  • Formula 1
    • Formula 1 Calendar
    • Championship Standings
    • Team/Driver Line-Up
    • Session Results
  • Formula E
    • Championship Standings
    • Formula E Calendar
    • Session Results
  • WRC
    • WRC Calendar
    • Championship Standings
  • MotoGP
    • MotoGP Calendar
    • Team/Rider Line-Up
    • Championship Standings
  • IndyCar
    • IndyCar Calendar
    • Championship Standings
  • WEC
    • WEC Calendar
  • More
    • IMSA
    • Formula 2
    • Formula 3
    • NASCAR
    • DTM
    • WSeries
    • Extreme E
    • Dakar
    • Technical Insight
    • Galleries
    • About/Contact
    • Privacy Policy
No Result
View All Result
Motorsport Week
Home Single Seater Formula 1

‘No targets’ for Russell as he reveals 2am call from Wolff

by Phillip Horton
1 year ago
0
‘No targets’ for Russell as he reveals 2am call from Wolff

George Russell (GBR) Mercedes AMG F1 in the FIA Press Conference. Sakhir Grand Prix, Thursday 3rd December 2020. Sakhir, Bahrain. FIA Pool Image for Editorial Use Only

Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

George Russell says he has not been set any targets by Mercedes as he heads into his first race with the team at this weekend’s Sakhir Grand Prix.

Russell has been drafted in to race for the reigning World Champions in place of Lewis Hamilton following his compatriot’s positive Covid-19 test.

Russell, backed by Mercedes for several years, has spent the last two seasons competing for Williams but has yet to make Q3 or score points, largely owing to the team’s lack of performance.

Russell has now been afforded a chance in a title-winning car but says the surprise outing will bring no added expectations.

“From my side, I think there’s no pressure, I’m being thrown in at the last opportunity, I haven’t driven their sim in two years,” he said.

“My seat is three years old, I’ve got so much information to learn and going up against Valtteri [Bottas] isn’t going to be easy, so I’m in a good position, not putting any additional pressure on myself.

“I am going to go out there and enjoy it and there’s been no targets, no expectations expected from me by Toto [Wolff] or by Mercedes because you can’t judge somebody off the back of one race.

“This weekend is all going to be about learning, especially Friday, focus towards qualifying and into the race on Sunday. If I get the opportunity again in Abu Dhabi, who knows, that will be easier for me.”

Russell explained the developments behind getting the seat and says he had a “bit of a sleepless night” while Mercedes negotiated with Williams over his temporary release.

“I got a phone call from Toto at 2am on Tuesday morning, I was in the bathroom, which was slightly awkward,” said Russell.

“I answered the phone, and he said ‘George are you in the bathroom?’, ‘Sorry, I am in the bathroom’.

“He said ‘unfortunately Lewis has caught Covid, he doing well, he’s healthy and he feels fine which is most important, but we want you to drive’.

“So I was like ‘right okay’, then it was a bit of a sleepless night. We made it happen throughout the following day.

“I counted yesterday that I had 64 phone calls on Tuesday pinging between so many different people so glad we got there in the end.”

Tags: F1MercedesRussellSakhirGP
Share572Tweet357Share143

Related Posts

Aston Martin’s Vettel has bag robbed in Barcelona
Formula 1

Aston Martin’s Vettel has bag robbed in Barcelona

11 hours ago
Ricciardo ‘hopes something was wrong’ after perplexing race
Formula 1

Ricciardo ‘hopes something was wrong’ after perplexing race

11 hours ago
Several F1 teams at risk of missing last few races – Horner
Formula 1

Several F1 teams at risk of missing last few races – Horner

13 hours ago
Load More

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Aston Martin’s Vettel has bag robbed in Barcelona
Formula 1

Aston Martin’s Vettel has bag robbed in Barcelona

May 23, 2022
Several F1 teams at risk of missing last few races – Horner
Formula 1

Several F1 teams at risk of missing last few races – Horner

May 23, 2022

Upcoming Races

# EventLocationDate
6Spanish GPBarcelona22 May
7Monaco GPMonte Carlo29 May
8Azerbaijan GPBaku12 June
9Canadian GPMontreal19 June
10British GPSilverstone3 July

Click here for the full 2022 F1 calendar

Drivers’  Standings

# DriverPts
Max Verstappen110
Charles Leclerc104
Sergio Perez85
George Russell74
Carlos Sainz65
Lewis Hamilton46
Valtteri Bottas38
Lando Norris35
Esteban Ocon30
Kevin Magnussen15

Click here for full Drivers’ Standings

Motorsport Week

© 2021 Motorsport Media Services Ltd

Other Links

  • About & Contact
  • Privacy Policy
  • Motorsport Monday

Follow Us

No Result
View All Result
  • Login
  • Sign Up
  • Home
  • Formula 1
    • Latest News
    • Standings
    • Calendar
    • Team/Driver Line-Up
    • Session Results
  • Formula E
    • Latest News
    • Standings
    • Calendar
    • Session Results
  • MotoGP
    • Latest News
    • Standings
    • Calendar
  • WRC
    • Latest News
    • Standings
    • Calendar
  • IndyCar
    • Latest News
    • Calendar
    • Standings
  • WEC
    • Latest News
    • Calendar
  • Other
    • Formula 2
    • Formula 3
    • Moto2
    • Moto3
    • WSeries
    • DTM
    • IMSA
    • NASCAR
    • Extreme E
    • Dakar
  • Galleries
  • About/Contact
  • Privacy Policy

© 2021 Motorsport Media Services Ltd

Welcome Back!

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password? Sign Up

Create New Account!

Fill the forms below to register

All fields are required. Log In

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In