Russell knew six months into rookie year: 'Ready for the world title fight'

When the lights go out in Australia in March for the first Grand Prix of the season, there will be five rookie drivers on the grid for their first season in Formula 1. Andrea Kimi Antonelli (Mercedes), Oliver Bearman (Haas F1), Jack Doohan (Alpine), Isack Hadjar (Racing Bulls) and Gabriel Bortoleto (Sauber) will all be competing in their debut season in F1, all vying to become rookie of the year.

As there always is when newcomers join the grid, there will be some who will stand out, while others may struggle to adapt to the challenges that come in the premier class of motorsport. George Russell, a rookie in Formula 1 during the 2019 season, realises what these young drivers are going through, but also knows that at some point, you just have to perform in F1.

"At some point, you've got to swim in the deep end. You can learn in the shallow part of the water, but at some point, you're going to be thrown in at the deep end," the Brit told the likes of GPblog.

As a rookie, Russell was unable to fight at the front of the grid, limited by the qualities of his Williams that he raced in during the 2019, 2020 and 2021 seasons: "Of course, if you spend, like me, three years fighting at the back, it's good practice. But I felt probably from six months in, I was ready to fight for victories and championships," concluded the Mercedes driver.

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