Russell surprised by tears over first F1 points for Williams
George Russell says his first Formula 1 points for Williams meant “more than I can put into words”, but was surprised by his teary reaction to the breakthrough in Hungary.
Russell finished Sunday’s Hungarian Grand Prix in eighth place to score his first points for Williams since making his F1 debut for the team in 2019.
Russell and team-mate Nicholas Latifi both vaulted up the order after the Turn 1 collisions, but clung on to their points-paying positions to give Williams its best result since Brazil 2017. It also marked Latifi’s first F1 points finish.
After a number of near-misses with the points this year, Russell was emotional after the race, shedding some tears as he began his interviews with the media.
The British youngster explained in the paddock at the Hungaroring that he hadn’t expected to be so emotional, but that it summed up the journey him and Williams had been on since the struggles of 2019.
“I literally shed a tear, which I was not expecting,” Russell said.
“I probably wouldn't have shed a tear if I won my first race, to be honest. That’s how much it means.
“It means more than I can put into words, thinking of the ride we've been through this past three years. If you're fighting for something for three years and you finally get it.
“It was an incredible stint on our side of the garage. That second stint, it was probably the best stint of my whole career. Keeping Danny [Ricciardo] behind, keeping Max [Verstappen] behind, closing the gap by 20 seconds to the cars ahead, it was exceptional.
“I pulled everything I have, as I do every single race, and I finally came home with something.”
George Russell, Williams FW43B, Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing RB16B
Photo by: Charles Coates / Motorsport Images
Russell temporarily ran second on-track after pitting for slicks instead of taking the standing restart, but was instructed by the FIA to hand back some positions after jumping cars in the queue at pit exit.
Russell said that he was grateful the FIA showed “a bit of common sense” by asking him to give the positions back instead of immediately taking action, having feared he could receive a drivethrough penalty.
“I saw an opportunity. I just thought, screw it, let's go for it because the risk versus reward, the reward part outweighed the risk,” Russell said.
“I'm really thankful to the FIA for showing a bit of common sense just to say, 'Give those positions back'. They could have come through and given me a drivethrough.
“As I was pulling out my pitbox I said, ‘can I overtake these cars?' And literally as I overtook them, they said no. I knew quite early on.
“So maybe I shouldn't have done that. But I wasn't like kicking myself, because any driver in my position would have done the same.”
Related video
Previous article
Hamilton suspects he may have long COVID after Hungarian GP fatigue
Next article
Alonso taught Hamilton the racing line in F1 Hungarian GP battle
Verstappen v Hamilton: Who was at fault?
Formula 1: Sprint Qualifying analysis
The F1 champion who became an Indy king in his second career
Emerson Fittipaldi’s decision to go racing with his brother led to him falling out of F1, but he bloomed again on the IndyCar scene. NIGEL ROEBUCK considers a career of two halves
Why Mercedes is pleased to be in the Hungary hunt at a 'Red Bull track'
Mercedes ended Friday practice at the Hungaroring with a clear gap to Red Bull thanks to Valtteri Bottas’s pace in topping FP2. But there are other reasons why the Black Arrows squad feels satisfied with its progress so far at a track many Formula 1 observers reckon favours Red Bull overall
How Red Bull endured its second car crash in two weeks
OPINION: Red Bull was justified to be upset that Lewis Hamilton survived his British GP clash with Max Verstappen and went on to win. But its attempts to lobby the FIA to reconsider the severity of Hamilton's in-race penalty were always likely to backfire, and have only succeeded in creating a PR disaster that will distract from its on-track efforts
The ‘screaming’ F1 engine future that may not be out of reach
OPINION: It wasn't just the Verstappen/Hamilton clash that had the Red Bull and Mercedes bosses at loggerheads at Silverstone, with the nature of Formula 1's 2025 engines also subject for disagreement. But hopes to have loud, emotive engines that are also environmentally friendly don't have to be opposed
The drivers that need to strike gold before F1's summer break
OPINION: Formula 1 is about to break up for summer 2021, with the title battles finely poised. But it’s not just the latest round of Max Verstappen vs Lewis Hamilton that will be worth watching this weekend in Hungary, as plenty of drivers are eying big results to change the stories of their seasons so far
How Lotus F1 uncovered, then squandered its last ‘unfair advantage’
Cast in the mould of its founder Colin Chapman, Lotus was powerful and daring but flawed – as it proved through further soaring peaks and painful troughs into the 1980s. DAMIEN SMITH examines a game-changing era
The core problems Yas Marina’s long-awaited tweaks won't address
OPINION: Changes to the layout of Abu Dhabi’s circuit aim to reverse the trend of insipid Formula 1 races there - the promoter has even described one of the new corners as “iconic”. And that, argues STUART CODLING, is one of this venue’s abiding failings
How Ferrari offered Britain's next F1 prospect what Red Bull couldn't
Last year's Formula 2 runner-up Callum Ilott could be on his way to becoming the first Briton to contest a grand prix in an Alfa Romeo since Reg Parnell in 1950. But, says OLEG KARPOV, the Ferrari Driver Academy protege is having to temper his ambition at the moment – outwardly at least…
