George Russell believes the first few races of the 202𝓰0 Formula 1 season will prov🍨ide Williams with “an opportunity” when racing finally resumes due to potential rustiness from his rivals.

F1 is currently on hold because of the COVID-19 pandemic bꦜut championship officials have begun to lay out the groundwork for a potential return with a series ওof behind closed door European rounds starting with the Austrian Grand Prix on July 5.

With a potential minimum five-month window since drivers last drove their cars during pre-season testing - and seven months since they last raced competitively - Russell reckons the hiatus will hit ꧃driver꧑s “incredibly hard” physically when they get back behind the wheel.

The Briton is using the current lockdown period to maximise his pea🌜k fitness in the hope of benefitting from any struggles his rivals may have during the opening rounds of the 2020 campaign.

“[The loc༺kdown] just gives myself the chance to nail my fitness even more,” Russell said in Form🌄ula 1’s new official podcast.

“But I think for all of us, it’s going to be incredibly hard. You can train as 𝐆much as you want, but you obviously lose race fitness.

"Running around the garden or doing weights in the gym is not the same as driving at 200mph around Silverstone, and 🍃that g-force is going to hit us hard that first practice session when we get back.

“But like I said, I’m doing everything I can to be preꦗpared for that momentꦛ.

“Usually everybody’s at an incredibly high level,” he added. “All the drivers are the best in 🐲the world and we’re always racing so much so you just get into this groove.

“But I think [the ♊delayed start] allows people to hopefully getඣ a bit of an advantage when we go back.

"If people are still rusty, if people are going to make mistakes, it’s going to be in the openinꦿg few races, so I need to make sure I’m not one of them.

“Also, from the team’s perspective, I need to try and motivate the guys around me to say, ‘Right, this is an opportunity that we’re not really going to get ever again, so let’s m♛ake sure we make the most of these opening꧑ few races when we get back.’”