George Russell maintains his belief in his own capability to contend for a Formula 1 championship, building on his impressive 2025 performance with Mercedes.
Having demonstrated a strong showing against Lewis Hamilton during their three years together, accumulating nearly equivalent points and securing more wins, Russell firmly positioned himself as the primary driver for the team, partnered with newcomer Andrea Kimi Antonelli.
In 2025, Russell stood out as the sole competitor to claim Grand Prix victories apart from the trio vying for the championship. His unwavering performance was crucial for Mercedes in clinching second place in the constructors’ standings, achieving 18 top-five placements across 24 races and failing to score points only once, with an 11th-place finish in Monaco. Additionally, the British driver has maintained a streak of 45 consecutive races without a terminal accident or contact.
When questioned about whether this marked his strongest F1 season, the British racer responded, “Undoubtedly my most robust in terms of execution – most steady, fewest errors. So yes, overall, it has been.”
George Russell, Mercedes-AMG
Photo by: Erik Junius
“I am absolutely confident I can – I can compete alongside the leading competitors. Max [Verstappen] currently sets the benchmark. He is the individual I would aim to challenge directly, and I believe he is the only one whose abilities would be scrutinised by others. He represents the sole driver on the roster whom you would wish to partner with to gauge your own competitive standing.”
However, Russell has yet to pose a substantial threat to Verstappen, as the Dutch driver typically commands superior equipment, even though the Silver Arrow demonstrated comparable performance more frequently in 2025 compared to prior seasons.
Approaching his eighth F1 season next year, and his fifth with Mercedes, Russell draws motivation from Michael Schumacher. The German driver played a pivotal role in constructing a winning team at Ferrari and achieved championship success in his fifth year with the Maranello outfit, initiating a five-year streak of title victories following successive losses between 1996 and 1999.
“I consistently recall Schumacher’s journey at Ferrari, how it required five years with the squad prior to his initial championship,” Russell further stated. “Individuals tend to recollect only the triumphant periods, while most forget the four years without championship triumphs.
“And whether I conclude the championship in second place or twentieth, frankly, it feels rather similar. You are not achieving victory, and that has also been a valuable lesson for me, having come from Williams where I was consistently at the rear every weekend. That experience was incredibly disheartening, but now that I am in this current situation, still not contending for a championship, it doesn’t feel substantially different, if that makes sense. You are either vying for a championship or you are not, and if you are not, no one truly desires to compete for second place.”
“Therefore, I am prepared for it, but I recognise my moment will come; I must exercise patience.”
