Williams’ George Russell sees an opportunity to put points on the board when the season kicks off if he can hit the ground running and take advantage of his “rusty” rivals.<\/p>\n
Formula 1 is undergoing a prolonged pause due to the global coronavirus lockdown, with early July now seen as a realistic starting point for the disrupted 2020 season.<\/p>\n
Russell believes that a few out-of-practice drivers might struggle out of the box when the action resumes, in which case an opportunity to secure a good result could materialize.<\/p>\n
“Usually everybody\u2019s at an incredibly high level,” he said in Formula 1’s latest podcast.<\/p>\n
“All the drivers are the best in the world and we\u2019re always racing so much so you just get into this groove. But I think [the delaying of the season] allows people to hopefully get a bit of an advantage when we go back.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
“If people are still rusty, if people are going to make mistakes, it\u2019s going to be in the opening few races, so I need to make sure I\u2019m not one of them.<\/p>\n
“Also, from the team\u2019s perspective, I need to try and motivate the guys around me to say, \u2018Right, this is an opportunity that we\u2019re not really going to get ever again\u2026 so let\u2019s make sure we make the most of these opening few races when we get back’.”<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
To make sure he isn’t among those that might get caught out by the prolonged period of inactivity when the curtain raises, Russell is refining his physical condition in lockdown.<\/p>\n
But the Williams charger admits that no regimen or training program will ever deliver the same benefits as racing.<\/p>\n
“[The lockdown] just gives myself the chance to nail my fitness even more,” said the 22-year-old.<\/p>\n
“But I think for all of us, it\u2019s going to be incredibly hard. You can train as much as you want, but you obviously lose race fitness.<\/p>\n
“Running around the garden or doing weights in the gym is not the same as driving at 200mph around Silverstone, and that g-force is going to hit us hard that first practice session when we get back.<\/p>\n
“But like I said, I\u2019m doing everything I can to be prepared for that moment.”<\/p>\n
Gallery: The beautiful wives and girlfriends of F1 drivers<\/p>\n
Keep up to date with all the F1 news via\u00a0<\/em>Facebook<\/em>\u00a0and\u00a0<\/em>Twitter<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Williams’ George Russell sees an opportunity to put points on the board when the season kicks off if he can hit the ground running and take advantage of his “rusty” rivals. Formula 1 is undergoing a prolonged pause due to the global coronavirus lockdown, with early July now seen as a realistic starting point for … <\/p>\n