Russell waiting in the wings at Mercedes

Reigning GP3 champion George Russell is becoming a familiar figure in the Formula 1 paddock - especially around the Mercedes garage, where he's trying not to get too star-struck.

“Sometimes you don’t realise who they are when you are just talking to them," Russel told the Formula 1 website in an exclusive interview this week.

"But Toto [Wolff] is one of the most influential people in the paddock. And Niki [Lauda] is Niki, isn’t he? A genuine F1 hero."

Both men have had their eye on the 19-year-old British racer for some time now, as part of Mercedes' young driver programme. He's been named as the team's official reserve driver for the French and Belgian Grand Prix.

“Toto and Niki are very supportive,” Russell said. “Very easy to work with.

"They give that same support to everyone, whether it’s a truckie, a security guard, an engineer, somebody in catering - or a driver."

Russell is an undoubted future star prospect, and he's already had time in a Formula 1 car. As well as in-season test sessions with Mercedes, he made two Free Practice 1 outings last year with Force India at Brazil and Abu Dhabi.

“I didn’t know what to expect,” he recalled of his Brazil bow. "I hadn’t seen the circuit or the car before, and that was a big step up. So I’d say I was quite satisfied with my performance."

On that occasion he was six tenths off the pace of the team's regular driver - and another much-fancied Mercedes junior - Esteban Ocon.

“Mercedes weren’t expecting me to jump in and be quicker," he said. "But I wanted to prove that I could fulfil what they were looking for.

“I left a margin because I was still learning the track and the car,” he added. "I had some built-in excuses, I suppose, the not knowing the track or the car. But I’m not a driver who looks for excuses."

As for the future, much will now depend on how Russell fares in his rookie season Formula 2 with ART. He started the opening feature race in Bahrain on the front row after a strong qualifying performance, but had a slow start and finished in fifth.

He stalled before the start of the sprint race, which meant he ended up crossing the line down in 19th just behind his similarly-afflicted team mate Jack Aitken.

• Wehrlein and Russell win reserve roles at Mercedes

Russell will need to do better next weekend. Formula 2 stages its second round of the season on the Baku City Circuit in Azerbaijan, with the Formula 1 pit walls watching on intently.

"The clear goal which has been set this season is to win the championship,” Russell told Motorsport.com. "Mercedes have put their faith in me and fully believe in ART to be able to do the job.

"Being a rookie is no excuse," he said. "It’s always easier with experience under your belt, but that’s the level we’re at now.

"I don’t think you can afford to slip up at any point," he added. "I’m going to be going out there to win as many races as possible, and score as many points as possible."

Russell has Lewis Hamilton as a role model for what's possible. Hamilton won his rookie season in GP2 in 2006, also with ART. The following season he was in F1 at McLaren, and the year after that he was world champion.

“You saw Hamilton in his first season take it to Alonso at McLaren, when he had a two-time world champion as his teammate," Russell noted. "And that’s at the top level. So there’s no excuse."

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