George Russell has revealed he had a “really good” conversation with Novak Djokovic ahead of the Dutch Grand Prix.
The Mercedes driver has had a good season so far, picking up a win in Canada, but Mercedes has struggled to keep consistent speed in the car.
Russell currently sits fourth in the championship as he prepares for the second half of the season. and revealed he spoke to Djokovic about how to stay fit for years to come.
**ARE YOU READING THIS ON OUR APP? DOWNLOAD NOW FOR THE BEST GB NEWS EXPERIENCE**
The 27-year-old revealed: “I had a really good conversation with Novak Djokovic about human performance and what he’s doing currently, but [also] what he was doing in his 20s,
George Russell revealed his chat with Novak Djokovic was really inspirational
|PA
“He said to me, when he was in his 20s, he felt that he could comfortably miss a day in the gym or a day here or a day there, and it wouldn’t affect him.
“But he didn’t, and he’s so grateful for that now because he thinks the work he put in during those years is allowing him to continue to play at such a high level into his late 30s.
JUST IN: NFL's first trans cheerleader quits team and blasts 'delusional' Donald Trump
“Formula 1 isn’t as brutal on the body as let’s say tennis – it’s different, because you don’t have that constant impact on your legs – but I want to be here well into my 40s and when I see what Fernando Alonso’s doing, that gives me inspiration that I can do that.”
Russell also revealed he still thinks he has a lot of time left to win his first championship despite having been in F1 for almost seven seasons.
**SIGN UP FOR OUR FREE DAILY GB NEWS SPORTS NEWSLETTER HERE**
Novak Djokovic has surprised the world with how long he has been able to play at the top level
|REUTERS
He continued: “You think of Schumacher and Ferrari as just domination, but his first championship with Ferrari was in his 30s, so it’s quite interesting,” the Mercedes driver said.
“That’s what I’ve got to tell myself to stay motivated! And telling myself it will come at some point.
LATEST SPORTS NEWS:
“We don’t have the fastest car today, but it might be next year, it might be in five years’ time, it might be in four years’ time, it might be in 10 years’ time.
“But my dream is to be a World Champion, and I’m working every day to make sure I’m ready, because I just don’t know when that time will come."
George Russell will be looking to continue his good season at Zandvoort
|GETTY
Russell will be hoping to make inroads into Max Verstappen, who sits in third place in the drivers' championship, and close the gap to Ferrari in the constructors' championship.
The Dutch Grand Prix will run from August 29 until August 31,