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George Russell has revealed that words by Fernando Alonso have partially inspired his mid-season turnaround in form during 2023. Russell
In his debut season with Mercedes in 2022, Russell managed to outscore Lewis Hamilton and secure the team’s only win. However, this year he has fallen behind his seven-time World Champion teammate by 62 points. Russell has only achieved one podium finish in Canada and believes missed opportunities have cost him over 60 points in total. Despite crashing out in Singapore, he has performed well in the second half of the season, out-qualifying Hamilton in four of the last five rounds. Russell attributes his recent improvement to a change in mentality, enjoying life more, and not solely focusing on every detail. However, he denies that his newfound mindset has altered his professional approach to racing. Despite a collision with his teammate in Qatar, Russell was able to recover to fourth place. He believes Mercedes had the pace to challenge Max Verstappen for victory and acknowledges falling behind Lando Norris in the championship standings. Russell currently holds eighth place with 132 points.
Source: Motorsport Week
