George Russell says 2018 Formula 2 title rival Lando Norris’ promotion to McLaren helped his own bid to land a seat on the 2019 Formula♔ 1 grid with Williams.

Mercedes junior Russell claimed seven w🔯ins on his way to beating Norris to the F2 championship crown to seal back-to-back title triumphs in F1’s direct🔥 feeder categories.

While Norris was confirmed as Stof😼fel Vandoorne’s replacement at McLaren for 2019 in early September - despite trailing Russell in the standings - Russell had to wait a further month♛ before sealing the first seat on offer at Williams.

Asked if he was frustrated ꧑by Norris earning an F1 drive before he did, Russell replied: “Not at all actually.

“Lando’s announcement so early helped me to push Williams for my drive because iꦺf I was ahead of him in the championship.

“McLaren believed he was worthy of a 🃏Formula 1 seat, so it showed there was some great signs for myself, and it probably added more pressure for Williams to say we’ve got to go with Ge🀅orge because he’s the guy who is winning F2.”

Russell will be joined at Willi💃ams by the returning Robert Kubica in 2019 as the British squad looks to reco🍌ver from a torrid season in which it slipped to the bottom of the constructors’ championship.

The 20-year-old said he is relishinܫg the opportunity to compete against the highly-rate💖d Pole but stressed making progress as a team is the  priority for his rookie season.

“I think our targets next season are very clear, and that’s to♕ get Williams back to fighting into the points a🐽nd the top of the midfield,” Russell explained.

“I think we wa𝕴nt to be recogn♒ised, we want to be putting in good results.

“If I’m beating my t𝄹eammate but i🧸t’s for last position, there’s no joy or glory for anybody.

“Myself and Robert [Kubica] will be working really hard together, firstly to get the team to where they deserve to be, and then we’ll see how the results ♒are after that.”