Russell: Albon handling Red Bull pressure well in "cutthroat" environment

Williams' George Russell has praised Formula 2 rival and Toro Rosso driver Alexander Albon on his handling of pressure from Red Bull.

The Anglo-Thai driver has had a relatively smooth entrance to Formula 1, earning a very respectable 10th place last time out in China having started from the pitlane after a shunt in FP3.

Russell, who fought Albon in 2018 in F2 for the title has stuck up for his rival, saying Albon has handled the pressures of being a Red Bull junior driver very well considering the unforgiving nature of the programme.

“Alex is doing a really great job at the moment,” Russell admitted to RaceFans. 

“Everybody is aware of the pressure seen upon Red Bull juniors so you understand why they’re all at 120% every single time they set foot in the car.”

Russell described the Red Bull programme as “a bit more cutthroat compared to usual”, with his own experience as a Mercedes junior driver an altogether different experience according to the Briton himself.

"It’s not that I don’t feel pressure. At the end of the day if I’m not performing Mercedes aren’t just going to keep me there.

“There’s no need to add additional pressure to try and impress anybody more than you’re doing. My goal is to get the most out of it and if I do it then they’ll be happy.”