Williams celebrates "absolutely outstanding" Russell podium

Williams CEO and team principal Jost Capito described George Russell's first F1 podium as "absolutely outstanding" and praised the FIA for its efforts on a difficult day.

Rain fell constantly at the Spa-Francorchamps circuit, with a classification declared after two laps behind the safety car and nearly four hours after the original start time.

The culmination was Russell's first podium on his 50th start, and the first for the team since Lance Stroll finished third in the 2017 Azerbaijan Grand Prix. The second place was the team's best result since Felipe Massa was runner-up in 2014 in Abu Dhabi.

“It was not foreseeable how it would develop but I think the weather conditions were so bad and for the safety of the drivers it was impossible to do a normal race," Capito told Sky Sports F1.

“So I think FOM and the FIA did exactly what was needed to do to be safe for the drivers and still having a race, if you call it a race, but having a result.

“Of course, in the position we were in we are absolutely happy that it was like this and having the first podium after many years is absolutely outstanding and is fantastic.

“It is a bit of a strange feeling having a podium after this but finally a podium is a podium and I think it was a great job yesterday so is well deserved.”

Williams scored its first points of the season ahead of the summer break at the Hungarian GP.

With Nicholas Latifi classified ninth at Spa, alongside Russell's podium, it marks the first time the team has scored back-to-back double points since 2016.

“The team did a fantastic job and I would have been so sad for the team if Sunday would have been no race and you do this great job on Saturday and then do not get rewarded at all for that," added Capito.

“I think that would have been also not really nice to the team.

“I’m really happy for the team. They worked so hard all year, improving from race to race and we’ve got just a good spirit now and atmosphere and I think it comes at the right time.”

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