George Russell is back at the front of Formula 1 with a new driving style and nothing to lose.
After a mid-season break, Russell returned with a sprint race win and second place in qualifying on Saturday at the Dutch Grand Prix. He attributed his success to a new approach, saying he'd used the break to learn from his teammate Kimi Räikkönen's techniques and shed stress.
Russell said he'd taken inspiration not just from Räikkönen but also from the world of golf. "If you change your golf swing you'll probably take half a step back first before making those improvements," he said. "I think the break just allowed me to put those learnings into the back of my mind, come here this weekend, not fixating on what I want to try and achieve with the car and the tires but knowing it."
The new approach has been supported by a Mercedes car with a basic design that's been stable enough to stay at the front even as the team hasn't brought rapid succession of upgrades like McLaren and Ferrari have done. Mercedes' last major upgrade package was at the Canadian Grand Prix in May.
Russell's relaxed attitude has been a key factor in his success, he said. "I'm just going to go out, enjoy it, and I don't even really feel in a fight," he said. "It's not mine to lose, it's mine to gain." He also joked that he's faster for no longer carrying an engagement ring around, after getting engaged nearly a month ago.
The contrast with McLaren, which spent Saturday still getting to grips with an upgraded car, has been stark. Norris qualified on pole but struggled with pace through slow corners in the sprint race before finding extra pace. Russell's comments on the Mercedes car's stability and his own approach will be closely watched as the season continues.
The next test for Russell and Mercedes comes at the Italian Grand Prix, where the team will face a renewed challenge from Ferrari and McLaren. With a strong car and a new approach, Russell is confident of staying at the front of the pack. "I'm really, really proud of that because it's just building that toolbox of experience for me that's going to allow me to be even better in the years to come," he said.
Source: Yahoo Sports