Dave Robson of Williams looks ahead to George Russell’s new role at Mercedes, analysing what will await him there and drawing interesting comparisons
After three years at Williams, George Russell will line up for Mercedes in the 2022 Formula One season and will be able, and indeed required, to demonstrate his skills in a top car for the first time. Dave Robson, who knows Russell well from working with him at Williams, knows what’s in store for him.
“I think the weekends are very different for these guys than they are for others,” the vehicle performance director says of Russell’s new status as a top team driver. “Especially on Saturday, but the whole race dynamic is different when you’re racing at the front.” The Briton is only partly familiar with this.
In his time at Williams, it only happened once that he started from the front row, and that was at the 2021 Belgian Grand Prix. In the race, Russell held that position, but it only lasted a few laps due to the weather conditions.
Robson: Russell under different pressure at Mercedes
“What happened at Spa, obviously good for us in terms of points,” Robson looks back, “but it would have been good for George to have a dry race from the front row at Spa on Sunday and find out what it really feels like. We would have done worse, but he probably would have learned a lot.”
“I think that’s probably the most important thing he has to deal with. Plus, of course, he’s got a completely different car and different tyres to deal with as well, and he’s under the pressure of a multiple world champion on the other side of the garage,” said the Williams engineer.
Lewis Hamilton knows Robson from his time at McLaren, where he became Jenson Button’s race engineer in 2010. The two drivers were teammates for three years. What differences and similarities can Robson identify in comparison to Russell?
Parallels and differences with Hamilton and Button
“That’s a good question. I think Jenson and Lewis were quite different and George is different again in terms of driving style. He’s somewhere in between the two. “
“But to a certain extent it’s about dealing with the tyres and they’ve changed, so I don’t know what Lewis’ style is these days,” Robson explains. “The most important thing is that George is adaptable. He’s quite instinctive and I think he’ll continue to improve. He’s got the talent.”
Russell has been through tough times at Williams, but also some good moments, his one-time companion knows. “He will have learned a lot from that. No doubt he will have a lot more to learn because working with Mercedes is another calibre than it was with us,” Robson says.
Robson on Russell: “He has everything it takes “
“But in terms of his style and attitude, he’s not inferior to those two. His work ethic and the way he brings the team together and his ability and confidence to make decisions, those are all the real key factors.”
“He has the talent to drive the car,” the Williams employee affirms. “There are enough people out there who have the same talent, but he also has everything it takes to get the best out of the team, which is to make the right decisions at the crucial moments and under pressure. “
Robson admits in this context that there have also been “some disagreements” at Williams. “He has some pretty strong opinions and beliefs about what we should be doing on Friday in free practice and obviously in qualifying,” he says of Russell.
He cites tyres and their preparation for a fast lap, for example. “In that situation, I’m prepared to say he’s the best sensor on the car,” Robson points out. “So I don’t have a problem with letting him make those decisions because he’s in the best position to do that.”
“But yeah, sometimes, especially in terms of traffic, when that goes wrong, when that goes really wrong and costs you a lap in qualifying, of course he’s upset about it and emotional, but that’s just part of it. “