F1 News: George Russell "Disappointed" With Lack Of 2023 Podiums - "On My Shoulders"

George Russell opens up on his challenging 2023 season and insists he is willing to wait for a championship fight.

In a recent interview with Motorsport Magazine, Mercedes driver George Russell conveyed his readiness to wait for his chance to vie for F1 world championships. However, as he reflects on his 2023 season, he reveals his disappointment in himself for missing out on more podium finishes.

Key Takeaways:

• Contrast with Verstappen's Success: While Russell has had limited victories at Mercedes, Max Verstappen has dominated F1, winning 38 races since last year.
• Russell's Perspective on F1's Competitive Nature: Russell comments on the challenges in F1, noting, "This is the sad reality of Formula 1 – only one team can get it right. And, often, when you do get it right, you get it very right and it’s very difficult to turn the tide and chase back up."
• Long-Term Career Outlook: Russell is optimistic about his future, citing Alonso's career longevity and Verstappen's delayed championship challenge. He also empathises with Charles Leclerc and Lando Norris, who are in similar positions.

Despite Mercedes' dip in form coinciding with his arrival, George Russell remains undeterred. He reflected on this, stating:

"We’re all here to fight for victory, we’re all here to fight for championships. And that’s not just the 2,000 people that work for Mercedes this is the thousands of people who work at Ferrari, McLaren and everybody else that works down this grid – they are fighting for victory."

Russell acknowledged the hard truth of the sport, explaining that only one team can get it right. He continued:

“And this is the sad reality of Formula 1 – only one team can get it right. And, often, when you do get it right, you get it very right and it’s very difficult to turn the tide and chase back up.

"So, of course I wanted to achieve a lot more this season. It’s been… regardless of the being victory-less, there’s probably been seven or eight podiums I could’ve had this year… and I’m disappointed with myself in that there’s been a few on my shoulders."

Despite the setbacks, his outlook remains positive. He said:

“But I think when you’re on the back foot, everything often goes against you. But when the car is flying, everything goes for you.

"So, clearly we need to work on one thing. I look at the positives. I’m 25 years old, I feel like I’ve got a good at least 15 years left in me – when I look at Fernando [Alonso].

"And when I look at Max [Verstappen], I think he was in his seventh year before he fought for a title.”

Russell understands the need for patience in his career, much like his peers. The British driver concluded:

“So, we need to bide our time, as frustrating as it is. But you’ve got great drivers like Charles [Leclerc] in the exact same position, Lando in the exact same position.

"And this was Max four or five years ago in 2020 and prior. So, I’m not too bitter about it. Of course I would love my fortunes to be different, but my time will come.”