Mercedes protégé George Russell believes the German manufacturer's handling of its young drivers follows a more lenient approach than the "cutthroat" manner exercised by Red Bull.
Talented young drivers supported by a manufacturer enjoy a funded path to Formula 1, but with that entitlement come expectations, and when prospects fail to materialize, outlooks can be called into question.
Russell's career in motorsport has largely benefitted from Mercedes' support, with young Brit's credentials earning him a driver with Williams this year.
Russell's former F2 rival Alex Albon was also the recipient of a promotion to the big time, thanks to Red Bull and Toro Rosso.
Albon's performance so far this season has been impressive, even if the British-Thai racer blot his copy in China with a massive crash in free practice, the origin of which, according to Russell, may have been at least partially rooted in Red Bull's "more cutthroat" treatment of its drivers.
"Alex is doing a really great job at the moment," said Russell, quoted by Crash.net.
"I think everybody is aware of the pressure that is seen upon Red Bull juniors, so you understand why they are always 120 percent every single time they set foot in the car.
"It’s not that I don’t feel pressure [from Mercedes]. At the end of the day if I am not performing Mercedes aren’t just going to keep me there.
"But when I opened the F2 season in Bahrain last year and it was a poor weekend and the same in GP3 in Barcelona [the year before], the response from Toto [Wolff] was ‘don’t worry about it, it’s the first race and a long season, and make sure you do better next time’.
"I was expecting a bollocking when I walked into his office. I can’t speak for them but it’s the perception looking at history of how they do things."
Albon's graduation to F1 came after a competitive season in F2 but one during which he had to deliver at each outing, or risk losing his seat.
Responding to Russell's "cutthroat" comment, Albon said that he was no stranger to pressure.
"I’ve been under pressure before, even last year I was racing for my seat every weekend so I couldn’t sit back," said the Toro Rosso driver.
"I’ve kind of got used to it and I’m quite comfortable and confident in myself so I’m not too worried about that."
From the outside, given Williams current depressed state of affairs, it appears that Russell has his own burden to deal with this season, but as a young apprentice he insists he isn't forcing any additional pressure on himself.
"I feel the same amount of pressure entering a qualifying session as I did in F2 or GP3," Russell contended.
"You want to do your best and get the most out of it and I know I’ve just got to do the job.
"There’s no need to add additional pressure to impress anybody more than I am doing. My goal is to get the most out of it and if I do that I’m happy."
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