Russell hopes to test 'anything with four wheels' before season starts

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Williams' George Russell hopes he'll have the opportunity to loosen up before the F1 season finally kicks off by putting some laps under his belt in "anything that's got four wheels".

Formula 1 is scheduled to rev up once again in early July in Austria, or over four months after the final day of pre-season testing at the Circuit de Catalunya in Barcelona.

Like many of his F1 colleagues, Russell immersed himself in the virtual world when the 2020 season was put on ice due to the coronavirus.

The young Briton is part of the official Virtual Grand Prix series' core group of racers along with Charles Leclerc, Lando Norris and Alex Albon.

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But Russell can't wait to get back to the real world of racing, perhaps easing himself back into form with some preliminary running.

"That’s something I’ll really be trying to do," he said on Sky Sports F1.

"I think realistically karting will be the first opportunity I get. As soon as I can, I’ll be karting. But ultimately I want to try and jump in a Formula 1 car before we go back racing again.

"So whether that’s in a Williams or in a Mercedes, we have to wait and see, just to get some laps under our belt.

"But it may even be in a Formula 3 or Formula 2 car as well. Anything that’s got four wheels and can go around a race track I think will be better than nothing."

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In addition to keeping his basic sensations alive with sim racing, Russell has also been training hard during the hiatus. But the 22-year-old insists there's no substitute for the real thing, physically or mentally.

"Unlike other sports, you can’t have a race circuit with a Formula 1 in your back garden," he said.

"It’s not like a footballer who can just go out and kick a football and do their own training. It’s very difficult.

"I’m doing everything I can in the gym I’ve got here, cardio-wise either running or cycling. And also from a mental standpoint, doing things like learning to juggle or just trying to keep my mind occupied and stay on the ball as much as I can.

"I’ve recently invested in a more top quality simulator equipment and started not only to do it for fun, but to start training on there, thinking this is the closest thing I’ve got to reality and I need to stay sharp and be ready for whenever we go back."

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Phillip van Osten

Motor racing was a backdrop from the outset in Phillip van Osten's life. Born in Southern California, Phillip grew up with the sights and sounds of fast cars thanks to his father, Dick van Osten, an editor and writer for Auto Speed and Sport and Motor Trend. Phillip's passion for racing grew even more when his family moved to Europe and he became acquainted with the extraordinary world of Grand Prix racing. He was an early contributor to the monthly French F1i Magazine, often providing a historic or business perspective on Formula 1's affairs. In 2012, he co-authored along with fellow journalist Pierre Van Vliet the English-language adaptation of a limited edition book devoted to the great Belgian driver Jacky Ickx. He also authored "The American Legacy in Formula 1", a book which recounts the trials and tribulations of American drivers in Grand Prix racing. Phillip is also a commentator for Belgian broadcaster Be.TV for the US Indycar series.