Williams driver George Russell has accepted that he needs to improve on his race starts when the 2020 Formula 1 season eventually gets underway.
Russell made his Formula 1 debut with Williams last year but his graduation coincided with the squad slumping to the rear of the 10-team grid.
Russell out-qualified team-mate Robert Kubica at each event but frequently fell behind the Pole on the opening lap of a grand prix.
The Briton started ahead of Kubica at each race but after Formula 1’s summer break completed the first lap as the last Williams driver on six of the nine occasions.
“I will definitely try and be stronger, it’s an area of my driving I definitely didn’t do a good enough job last year,” Russell said on race starts.
“But it was a strange situation we found ourselves in that the cars ahead would just clear off and I’d just be racing with Robert.
“It was my first year and I didn’t want to take any unnecessary risks with that car.
“But this year I need to be getting my elbows out a bit more as I can’t be fannying around at the back.”
Williams struggled for pace through 2019 as it suffered with a car that not only lacked pace but had excessive amount of drag.
Russell is optimistic that such a problem has been alleviated to a degree in 2020, giving the squad more flexibility with the approach it can take.
“I think it’s still hurting a bit but the good thing is we have a better range,” said Russell on drag.
“We believe we can take downforce off without losing efficiency so we should be able to find a better compromise versus last year.”
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