has declared that no different driver on the Method One grid is extra deserving of a world championship than , whom she described as a “actual gentleman”.
Russell, aged 28, is heading into the season-opening this Sunday
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His over key rivals comparable to , Ferrari, and McLaren.
Williams herself offered Russell together with his inaugural F1 alternative in 2019, the place he competed for the British outfit for 3 seasons.
This tenure in the end paved his option to a coveted seat alongside seven-time world champion at Mercedes.
Regardless of becoming a member of Mercedes as their period of dominance started to wane, Russell made a robust impression, notably outscoring Hamilton in two of their three seasons collectively.
Final season, he additional distinguished himself by being the one driver outdoors of the first title contenders – Lando Norris, Max Verstappen, and Oscar Piastri – to safe a race victory.
Russell heads into the season-opening spherical in Australia on Sunday because the bookmakers’ favorite, with Mercedes anticipated to carry a bonus over rivals Purple Bull, Ferrari and McLaren (AP)
“George has at all times had a world championship in him,” Williams, former crew principal of the British crew, advised the Press Affiliation.
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“It has been a protracted and arduous street to get to a degree the place he’s absolutely in rivalry, however in my thoughts, no one would deserve it extra.
“George has labored so onerous, and his complete life has offered the constructing blocks for this second.
“He hasn’t been a type of drivers the place he has been on the proper place on the proper time. He began with Williams and sadly, he joined us on the hardest time for the crew.
“However I at all times stated to him: ‘Hopefully this can give you some actual expertise and resilience for the actually difficult instances to come back when that you must dig deep to win races and win world championships.’
Claire Williams has stated there is no such thing as a different driver on the Method One grid who deserves to win the world championship greater than ‘actual gentleman’ George Russell
“He then went to Mercedes after they weren’t as dominant as they’d been, however now issues have modified, and George has been ready patiently for this second.
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“He can be such a worthy world champion, however it’s a lengthy street to win that title, and he’s going to should get his head down and focus.
“But when anybody can do this, George can. He doesn’t do distractions, he’s actually good and he is aware of what he must do to win the championship.
“He’s completely on a par together with his friends and if he has the automobile beneath him, he is able to ship.”
Claire was the de facto boss of the crew based by her father, Sir , up till its sale in 2020.
Mercedes’ George Russell is the favorite to win the world championship (Bradley Collyer/PA) (PA Wire)
Williams, who revealed she’s going to set her alarm to look at Sunday’s race in Melbourne which begins at 4am UK time, added: “George was one in all my favorite drivers that I had the pleasure to work with, and I imply that genuinely.
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“He was such a pleasure. There aren’t any sides to him. He by no means thought he was extra vital than anybody else simply because he was the motive force.
“One of the simplest ways to explain George is that he’s actual gentleman, each on and off the monitor, and my dad would have agreed and appreciated that. He’s respectful and well-mannered, and that goes a great distance in Method One and a protracted option to being profitable, too.
“And simply think about. We may have George going up towards Lando and Lewis, too – he’s wanting fairly robust within the Ferrari – for the title, and that might be unbelievable for British motor sport.”
