MARCH 4, 2019

The jigsaw puzzle

George Russell is looking forward to making his Formula 1 racing debut in the Australian Grand Prix in Melbourne.

By Dan Knutson

George Russell is looking forward to making his Formula 1 racing debut in the Australian Grand Prix in Melbourne.

"I need to step back and pinch myself and realize I am in F1 and I will be making my debut," said the 21-year-old British driver. "But my goal is to be in F1 for many years to come. If I step back and relax too much I might be kicked out of the door. So my goal at the moment is to work with the team to try and push this car and get everything out of it."

Russell is realistic about the performance of the Williams team.

"I would be lying if I said we were not the slowest at the moment," he said. "That is a reality. It is clear we have some work to do, but was very positive is that we made a big step from when I jumped into the car definitely on the first day of our testing, even though we were late getting the car to Barcelona, until the last day of testing. We understand the issues with the car, and we are doing everything we can to rectify those problems. But we have got work to do. We were a big step behind all the other teams."

Russell will have just a few days at home in England before he flies to Australia for his first F1 race.

"It is really exciting and I can't wait for it," he said.

What is the one area right now that you think needs the most attention on the car and the team?

"In this sport it is never one thing," he said. "It is such a complex car and sport. You are working with 700 people, and everything has to work together. It is like a jigsaw puzzle. You might have the best piece of a jigsaw puzzle, but if the other parts don't work together with it and fit to that on amazing piece, it is not going to work. And F1 is similar – everything has to work to create this amazing thing that it is."