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George Russell Warns Against Writing off Norris in McLaren Duel Against Ricciardo

Lando Norris of McLaren offers a smile at a press conference

George Russell backs up his mate, Lando Norris, for the upcoming season. The Williams driver has high hopes for Norris and believes he can surprise everyone, even his new teammate Daniel Ricciardo.

He knows Norris has been with the team for a longer period of time and knows the car inside out. Hence, Norris will have the upper hand going into the new championship.

However, Ricciardo has seven Grand Prix wins under his belt, so that might make things interesting for the Woking-based team. McLaren finished 3rd last year in the constructor’s championship, but with the likes of Ricciardo joining, they can push for the title.

George Russell's virtual GP rival has fueled fire to the theory that he may be leaving for Mercedes
BARCELONA, SPAIN: George Russell of Great Britain and Williams looks on as drivers line up on the grid for a photo prior to day one of Formula 1 Winter Testing at Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya in Barcelona, Spain. (Photo by Charles Coates/Getty Images)

George Russell has faith in Lando Norris and will amaze people in 2021

In an interview with Sky Sports, the Williams driver said, “I think Lando is going to surprise a few people. He is in the third season of F1 now, third season with McLaren. He knows his team, knows the car inside out, the engineers.”

lando Norris testing out the McLaren MCL35M in Bahrain
Formula One F1 – Pre-Season Testing – Bahrain International Circuit, Sakhir, Bahrain – March 13, 2021 McLaren’s Lando Norris in action during testing REUTERS/Hamad I Mohammed

Russell added, ” it’s going to be tricky for Daniel coming into a new team, against a guy like Lando who is extremely fast and got experience within the team. So I think he will surprise a few people.”

Russell knows Mercedes will come calling in the future

The 23-year-old is well aware that both Hamilton and Bottas will be out of a contract at the end of 2021. He hopes that his performance at Sakhir Grand Prix when he drove the Mercedes car will make the move permanent to the Silver Arrows.

However, he told Marca as quoted by PlanetF1, “Right now my head is completely with this team, with Williams. By the middle of the year, we should have an idea of how things will go for me. I am concentrating on my work and progressing and then at some point my opportunity will come. But there are no promises for 2022.”

George Russell following the Sakhir GP
BAHRAIN, BAHRAIN – DECEMBER 05: Second place qualifier George Russell of Great Britain and Mercedes GP looks on in parc ferme during qualifying ahead of the F1 Grand Prix of Sakhir at Bahrain International Circuit in Bahrain, Bahrain. (Photo by Dan Istitene – Formula 1/Formula 1 via Getty Images)

The Grove-based team hopes to fight for some points in 2021. Williams has a Mercedes power unit and two talented drivers in the form of Russell and Nicholas Latifi and remains optimistic for the upcoming championship.

Also Read: F1 Testing: George Russell Provides a Disappointing Update for Williams

 

 

The post George Russell Warns Against Writing off Norris in McLaren Duel Against Ricciardo appeared first on EssentiallySports.

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