Albers: “Russell has so far been a non-aggressive driver who doesn’t take risks”

The Dutchman was not tender towards Russell George Russell dominated the opening weekend in Australia, but then in China and Japan he suffered a ‘1-2’ that he certainly hadn’t taken into account from his boxing partner Andrea Kimi Antonelli. Not only that, the race dynamics in Suzuka relegated Russell to fourth position and even off the podium, a 25-12 partial in the comparison with Antonelli which sent Russell on ‘holiday’ -9 behind the Italian driver. David Coulthard has already invited Russell to ‘declare war’ sportingly speaking against Antonelli and a more all-round shock has come from Christijan Albers: “For now he has been a driver who is not very aggressive and weak in duels who has not taken risks – said the former Dutch driver as guest of the Telesport podcast – in Japan for example at the start he had Norris on the outside, he could open the steering a little and transform Norris into a lawnmower without being penalized because it was the McLaren driver who he had put himself in a potentially dangerous position, but Russell did nothing. Even in China he was compliant, it seemed like he was driving thinking ‘go ahead, I’ll catch you later’”. Russell’s race conduct in these first races is more than understandable given that he is aware that he has the best car on the starting grid and therefore avoiding trouble that could lead to zeros in the standings is a wise approach. Albers defined Russell as ‘softy’ – literally weak, limp, soft (Malesani would revolt) – but it is an ungenerous judgment towards a rider who is simply trying to manage his first season as the main candidate for the world title. Before calling Russell ‘softy’, we must always remember that at Mugello in 2020 he took the Williams to Q2 by going onto the gravel at the exit from Casanova-Savelli just to keep his foot down.