Russell stated he believed Verstappen’s complaints had been influenced by the actual fact the Dutch driver’s Pink Bull staff haven’t began the season with a aggressive automobile.
“I did not get pleasure from driving the 2022 automobile when it was porpoising up and down, killing all people’s backs,” stated Russell, whose Mercedes staff have received all three races this yr.
“The automobile was massive, it was heavy. The high-speed corners, it wasn’t very nice to drive round. However he did not have the identical grievance, as a result of he was successful.
“Now, the complaints that he has at the moment are completely different to the complaints of Mercedes, Ferrari and McLaren, as a result of we’re on the entrance finish of the grid. That is solely pure, and also you do perceive and recognise the frustration.”
Russell stated Verstappen’s success was additionally an vital think about his considering. The 28-year-old can be starting to race in sport cars, particularly on the iconic Nurburgring Nordschleife, a 14-mile circuit in Germany considered probably the most difficult monitor on the planet that’s too harmful for contemporary F1.
“He is achieved what most drivers dream of, which is successful a championship,” Russell stated. “He is received 4 of them. There’s probably not rather more for him to attain in System 1. He is ticked all of the packing containers.
“Perhaps he can go after the information. However figuring out him as I do and figuring out drivers who’ve received or achieved related issues, at one level, you need to do what places a smile in your face.
“I can completely perceive why driving the Nordschleife places a smile on his face. I’ve pushed a whole lot of laps round it on the simulator. And I might like to have that probability to go and race across the Nordschleife.
“However my purpose now’s to turn into a System 1 world champion. If I’ve 4 of them beneath my belt, I would in all probability be doing the identical, so he is in a really completely different stage of his profession.”
