George Russell will "light things up" in a competitive car

Williams deputy team principal Claire Williams says that George Russell will light up the F1 grid when he gets his hands on a competitive car. Russell was the only driver not to score a point in 2019, but he vastly outperformed teammate Robert Kubica, showing his ability behind the wheel.

The 2018 F2 champion deservedly got his chance in F1 for the 2019 season, but it didn't go to plan as Williams were so far off the pace of anyone else on the grid.

Despite the uncompetitiveness, Russell has been a model pro in the circumstances, and Williams believe he will show exactly what he can do.

Williams told Motorsport.com: "I've been blown away by George.

"Unless you are inside this team you don't really know how hard it has been.

"George understood what he was coming into and he could see it himself, but we very clearly warned him what it was going to be like.

"And from the get go he has really behaved in a way that you could say is exemplary because it's been tough for him, not having a car that he would like to have.

"He' s one of those drivers that when he does have a [competitive] car, he's going to really light things up."