Russell doesn't want lucky points: "We need to do it on pure pace"
F1 News
- Nicolás Quarles van Ufford
Despite not scoring any points in his rookie campaign, young Williams star George Russell insists he and his team alike don't want to score points "out of luck" but rather do it because their car's pace allowed them to.
Joining Williams after a title-winning season in Formula 2, Russell was the only driver on the grid not to score any points in 2019. Teammate Robert Kubica bagged Williams' only point of the season in Germany when the Pole was classified tenth following a disqualification for both Alfa Romeos.
Kubica's point was a product of the total chaos at the Hockenheimring and could be considered as lucky, and Russell explained how that's not he wants things to go in his second year at the Grove-based team.
"Obviously, Formula 1 is about scoring points to get on the table," the 21-year-old told RaceFans.net.
"But I think the most important thing is having a stronger car, a car that we can compete [with] more week after week rather than just scoring…
"I could have scored a point here and there but it would have been out of luck and we don’t want to do that. We need to do it on pure pace."
Despite his lack of points, Russell was considered to be one of the most impressive talents on the grid in 2019, beating Kubica in all 21 qualifying sessions over the year.