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* GEORGE RUSSELL IS BACK AT WILLIAMS FOR THE FINAL ROUND OF THE SEASON IN ABU DHABI * THE BRIT WAS CALLED UP BY MERCEDES TO COVER FOR LEWIS HAMILTON LAST WEEKEND * RUSSELL ADMITS HE WAS

DESPERATE FOR ANOTHER RACE WITH THE WORLD CHAMPIONS  * HOWEVER, HE'S AIMING TO END THE SEASON BY REPAYING THE 'HARD WORK' OF WILLIAMS By TOBY MILES FOR MAILONLINE Published:

04:15 EDT, 12 December 2020 | Updated: 09:48 EDT, 12 December 2020 George Russell admitted it was 'strange' having to vacate his Mercedes seat for returning Formula One champion

Lewis Hamilton as he 'really wanted to win' this weekend's Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. The 22-year-old was robbed of a first F1 career victory by a puncture and pit-stop fumble as

he stood in for seven-time champion Hamilton at the Sakhir GP last weekend. As a late scramble ensued to bring Hamilton back for the season's final round, Russell even wore Mercedes

team kit for media duties on Thursday before it emerged that the driver 13-years his senior has recovered from coronavirus and will be racing. 'It was a strange feeling, to be

honest,' said Russell, who will return to Williams for the final race of the season. 'Prior to Bahrain, I really wanted to have the two weeks in the car, purely because I was

expecting to learn everything I needed to in Bahrain and I could have come here with no excuses, as such. 'As Bahrain did go so well from a performance perspective, part of me was like

you know what, I think it was a good weekend, obviously I really wanted to win and I would have had a great opportunity this weekend. 'But nevertheless, these guys at Williams, they

gave me that opportunity, they've been working so hard for me over the last two years. 'It's my duty to send off the season on a high, and that's what I'm here to

do.' Russell's drive in Bahrain was a massive breakthrough for the Brit, despite crossing the chequered flag in ninth.  He had pulled-out a lead of eight seconds before a freak

radio malfunction caused a pit-stop nightmare - causing him to free-fall down the order.  The talent then passed his team-mate for the weekend, Valtteri Bottas, and fought-back to second -

bearing down on eventual race winner Sergio Perez before a puncture wrecked his chances.    Russell will notice a frustrating number of differences between Hamilton's car and his

Williams when he races in Abu Dhabi this weekend. 'There's no hiding the lap times, obviously that's clear,' Russell added.  'Mercedes is the benchmark. I was

fortunate enough to race for them last week and know where we need to be pushing the car.  'It's good learning, and to get that back-to-back in the space of five days was

great.'