Russell: Lack of F1 test running won’t ‘compromise’ Williams

Williams’ lack of pre-season test running ahead of the 2019 Formula 1 season will not hurt the team “too much”, according to George Russell. 

After cancelling a planned shakedown of its new FW42 car last weekend and having been forced to skip the opening day of pre-season testing at Barcelona, Williams looks set to miss more track time. 

The British squad had planned to debut its 2019 challenger on Tuesday at the Spanish Grand Prix venue but issued an update on Monday to say it is “more likely than not” to miss a second consecutive day of running.  

“We won’t be out on track but everyone is working as hard as possible to get it sorted,” Russell told Sky Sports. 

“I don’t think it will compromise us too much to be honest. Winter testing is one thing but once you get racing it’s a completely different story.”

The reigning Formula 2 champion was due to share the car with Williams reserve driver Nicholas Latifi on Tuesday for what would have been his first outing ahead of his rookie F1 season. 

Williams’ original plan was to then hand Robert Kubica his maiden run in the FW42 on Wednesday, before Russell returned for the final day. 

However, its 2019 car is still being finished off at its Grove headquarters following the delays, with only a show car in its 2019 colours present in the team’s Barcelona garage. 

Williams has already lost 25 percent of its winter preparations and is poised to miss at least half of the first test ahead of the new campaign.