George Russell had one of the most unique F1 experiences in 2020. He drove for two different teams at the extreme end of the spectrum- Mercedes and Williams.

There were huge differences in aerodynamics in the two different pieces of machinery. So, George is passing is some of that information over to his 2021 team, Williams.

But adopting these changes is easier said than done, as Williams’ head of vehicle performance engineer, Dave Robinson, puts it.

“I’m sure they do things slightly differently, the way they organize their weekends and what they focus on,” said Robson.

“[But] I think the fundamental car paces are probably so different that in his mind he’s probably focussing on the wrong things at the moment as in we can’t just make our car like theirs as simply as he would obviously like.”

What particular weakness of Williams does George Russell want them to solve through Mercedes?

Throughout 2020, Williams had a poor getaway when the lights went out. Those poor starts compounded the miseries of a team that was already starting on the back of the grid.

Hence, an average F1 fan may have attributed those problems to their drivers, George Russell and Nicholas Latifi. But Russell, in his only drive with Mercedes in Sakhir, overtook Bottas to go into the lead of the race. Therefore, he is pushing Williams to develop a similar clutch paddle as them.

Trending

Liam Lawson’s Surprise Contract Clause Threatens Daniel Ricciardo’s RB Seat

April 24, 2024 11:15 AM EDT

Daniel Ricciardo To Be Replaced by Liam Lawson After Miami, F1 Pundit Dishes Out Harsh Verdict After Australian’s “Amateur Mistake”

April 17, 2024 11:14 AM EDT

What Is Azzurro La Plata and Azzurro Dino? Significance of Ferrari’s Historic Change to a Blue Livery for Miami GP

April 24, 2024 04:52 PM EDT

“[Charles] Leclerc Doesn’t Care About Ferrari”: F1 Insider’s Brutal Blow to Fred Vasseur & Co. Has Racing Community Lashing Out

April 24, 2024 05:00 PM EDT

F1 Rumor: Christian Horner and Wife Geri to Publicly Reveal All Details on Leaked Chat Scandal

April 22, 2024 04:10 PM EDT

Get instantly notified of the hottest F1 stories via Google! Click on Follow Us and Tap the Blue Star.

Follow Us

“He’s got some ideas about particularly how he might like to change the clutch paddle, so the sort of ergonomics of what they do. So that’s something we can look at over the winter. Otherwise, I think probably the whole drivetrain systems are a bit too different,” said Robson.

Again, it may not be feasible to incorporate such changes in their car, “How you understand the grip that you’re going to have at the start and therefore what the clutch target is. So that’s probably something for us to learn about.”

We can all feel for young George. To go from driving the slowest to fastest to again the slowest car might be too frustrating for him. But with Hamilton’s contract not yet sorted, maybe he will be driving the Mercedes in 2021?