© Jiri Krenek for Mercedes-Benz Grand Prix Ltd.
George Russell says if Max Verstappen went to Mercedes early in his career, “against Lewis Hamilton at the peak of his powers, it could have damaged his career”.
George Russell entered Formula 1 in 2019 with Williams, a team that was going through its worst period in history, while some of his peers immediately landed in much more competitive teams.
In an interview with Square Mile, George was asked if he thinks his years with Williams gave him an advantage over the rest of his peers.
“I think that’s something you would never know,” George said.
“It’s something I tell myself because I like to be glass half full and I want to take the positive out of every situation.
“But I could sit here and say I lost three years of my career because I was in a car that was right at the back of a grid and I couldn’t fight for wins.
“Or you can see all the positives from my time there. I look at those years now thinking: ‘Yeah, perhaps I did learn more racing at the back compared to what some of my rivals may have done being thrown in the deep end from the beginning.’”
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Max Verstappen also entered Formula 1 in Red Bull’s junior team Toro Rosso, before graduating to the main team.
Russell thinks this was good for the Dutch driver, as he believes he would have compromised his career had he immediately entered a top team like Mercedes.
“Some drivers have been thrown in at the deep end early and it’s hurt their careers.
“For example, Max Verstappen obviously got his promotion after 18 months, but perhaps if he went into a team like Mercedes against Lewis Hamilton at the peak of his powers, it could have damaged his career.
“So you’ve got to look at it from both sides, and for sure Max was a greater driver after three or four years under his belt compared to where he was after 18 months under his belt.
“If you’re going up against a guy who’s absolutely in his prime and dominating in the car that he’s so used to, maybe he wouldn’t be in the position he is today,” Russell concluded.
