George Russell believes the steadiness of Mercedes is a key distinction between them and the Williams Method 1 squad he beforehand raced for.

A Mercedes junior driver, Russell was handed his F1 debut by Williams in 2019, and spent three years there earlier than promotion in ’22 to the Silver Arrows alongside Lewis Hamilton.

It was a tough time for Williams with an alarming lack of efficiency, COVID-19, proprietor Sir Frank Williams promoting up after which passing away in 2021.

And to Russell, the style by which the 2 groups go racing in F1 is massively totally different.

Russell on Williams versus Mercedes expectations in F1

Talking on the Past the Grid podcast, Russell shared how for Williams simply surviving in F1 was successful versus the burden of expectations on the eight-time Constructors’ World Champions.

“The spirit at Williams was immense, everyone there labored so laborious, they have been so passionate, however all through my time it was going by a tough interval,” he mentioned.

“2019 was not a 12 months of efficiency and it was a 12 months of survival in 2020 (as Williams went pointless for the primary time of their F1 historical past).

“When the pandemic hit, the crew needed to do every thing it may to outlive and keep afloat and never go bankrupt. That paid such an enormous toll on everyone throughout the firm.

“Clearly now by the sale of the corporate and the takeover [by US private investment firm Dorilton Capital], that basically is a crew on the up, [but] it takes time to refine every thing.

“At Mercedes, they’ve had a lot success. Toto [Wolff] has been on the helm for therefore lengthy, and the tradition is ingrained inside everyone right here. It’s a well-oiled machine engaged on all cylinders.

“I knew how wonderful the crew was and the way proficient everyone was, nevertheless it’s been fairly a reminder since becoming a member of the extent at which they function.

“It has been actually inspiring for me to see 2000 folks giving every thing they’ll to make quick race vehicles. Their priorities are race, race and race and so they simply need to win. That’s fairly particular.”

Mercedes reinvent themselves with recent expertise, says Russell

The British driver has had a robust begin to his Mercedes profession, banking 5 podiums and a maiden F1 pole in Hungary regardless of the crew struggling for efficiency in 2022.

He leads teammate Hamilton by 12 factors within the standings and 7-6 throughout each qualifying and races on the summer season break.

“There’s loads of core folks right here, particularly within the race crew which were because the Honda days and thru the success of Brawn (corresponding to Sporting Director Ron Meadows and Trackside Engineering Director Andrew Shovlin),” Russell noticed.

“However there may be nonetheless plenty of recent and new vitality coming in and bringing nice issues to the crew.

“It feels very very similar to a household crew right here, however Williams genuinely was a family-run enterprise.

“Nearly all of folks at Williams, once I went across the manufacturing facility, and I used to be assembly folks the primary time, everyone I met had been there 15-20, 25-30 years.

“That gave the impression to be the case all through the entire manufacturing facility.”