Claire Williams Reveals Why She Blocked George Russell’s E… read more
Former Williams F1 team principal Claire Williams has revealed that she blocked George Russell’s early promotion to Mercedes, despite knowing how much the young British driver desired the move. Russell, who began his Formula 1 career with Williams in 2019, eventually joined Mercedes in 2022, but new revelations from his former boss shed light on the emotional and strategic reasons behind the delay.
In a candid interview on Formula 1’s Beyond The Grid podcast, Claire Williams opened up about the internal conflict she faced in refusing to release Russell from his contract early. The decision, she says, was not taken lightly but was necessary for the survival and competitiveness of the Williams team at the time.
“George wanted to go to Mercedes in that last couple of years and I couldn’t let him go—and I hated that,” Williams admitted. “It makes me upset to think about it. I needed him, I felt, more than Mercedes, and he was in contract. If I let him go, what message would that have sent? What would that have done to my team if I’d have let George go?”
Russell joined Williams in 2019 during a particularly challenging period for the once-dominant team. That year, they finished last in the Constructors’ Championship, a sharp contrast to their previous history of podiums and race wins. Despite the car’s lack of performance, Russell’s talent was evident from the start, and it became clear that he was destined for a top team. Mercedes, who had supported Russell’s junior career and retained a long-term interest in him, were eager to bring him in sooner rather than later. However, Williams stood firm.
“He was one of the greatest things that we had at Williams,” she continued. “When you go into a negotiation with a team like Mercedes and they’re not offering you what they should be for your A-star driver, then why would you just let him go? What kind of Team Principal would I have been if I’d have just let George go because Mercedes said, ‘we want George now’? That’s not how it works, is it?”
Russell has since echoed the sentiment that his time at Williams stretched longer than he anticipated. In a previous appearance on the same podcast, the now-Mercedes driver admitted that Claire Williams’ strength in contract negotiations played a significant role in keeping him at Williams for three full seasons. While the move may have delayed his competitive ambitions, Russell acknowledged that the experience shaped him.
Claire Williams also reflected on the emotional difficulty of the situation. As someone deeply committed to the legacy and welfare of the team, she found it incredibly hard to say no to a young driver’s dreams. Yet, she remained steadfast in her belief that she had to prioritize her team’s needs above individual aspirations.
“[George] was clearly upset and it was really difficult,” she said. “It was very hard to stand my ground because if someone comes to me and they’re upset, and it’s because of me because I’m a blocker, it’s really hard—but I had to put my team first. As much as I would have loved to have made George’s dreams come true, I couldn’t at the time, and that was one of the hardest parts of being a Team Principal for me.”
Williams went on to explain that her decision wasn’t just about protecting the team, but also about helping Russell grow as a professional and as a person. “I always said to George: you will be grateful for this one day because it will build resilience in you, it will build strength.”
Her words appear to have proven prophetic. Russell, now a Mercedes works driver, has shown remarkable composure and maturity since joining the top-tier team. His years at Williams, though spent at the back of the grid, helped him develop the resilience, racecraft, and leadership required at a championship-contending team like Mercedes.
Claire Williams stepped down from her role as deputy team principal in 2020, marking the end of the Williams family’s involvement in the team founded by her father, Sir Frank Williams. Since then, she has looked back on moments like the Russell situation as defining challenges of her tenure.
Though difficult, her decision to retain Russell underscores the tough choices that team principals must often make—balancing driver aspirations with the needs and future of their teams. For Russell, the delay may have been frustrating at the time, but it arguably laid the groundwork for the driver he has become today.
