George Russell remains unfazed by Max Verstappen’s potential Mercedes arrival, insisting he won’t back down—on or off the track.
At 27, George Russell is no longer a young driver. In this 2025 season, he will take a significant step in his career, becoming the leader of the Mercedes F1 team following Lewis Hamilton’s departure to Ferrari.
Is the Briton now more eager than ever to expand his record, given his undeniable talent? Let’s not forget that last year, he outqualified Hamilton 19 to 5.
“I know my time will come,” he told the BBC.
“I just have to keep performing. Whether it’s this year or next, it will happen.”
“If I keep delivering these results, as I have over the past three years against the greatest driver of all time, I believe I can fight for a world title and, hopefully, make my mark.”
“The results speak for themselves. I have nothing to prove or demonstrate.”
“I’m proud of what I’ve achieved against someone like Lewis.”
“At the end of 2021, statistically and in terms of perception, Lewis was the greatest of all time. I’ve had three seasons against the greatest of all time, and I finished ahead of him two out of three years as a teammate. I also outperformed him more often in qualifying and races.”
“In another era, if you finished ahead of Lewis Hamilton, you were world champion.”
George Russell Under Pressure Against Andrea Kimi Antonelli?
George Russell will need to be wary of his new teammate, Andrea Kimi Antonelli. If the Italian manages to hold his own, Russell’s reputation could take a hit.
“He’s a great little [kid],” Russell admits. “He’s very young, but he’s a really good guy. Super fast, obviously.”
“Being thrown into the deep end this early is a huge challenge. But in terms of pure speed, I don’t think there’s any doubt. It’s going to create an interesting new dynamic.”
Hamilton’s Departure: A Void at Mercedes?
How does George Russell view Lewis Hamilton’s departure? Does he feel a huge void at Mercedes F1? And how does he see his former teammate performing against Charles Leclerc at Maranello?
“It’s a new page turning, a new chapter. I don’t suddenly feel any extra responsibility.”
“Charles is a fantastic driver, there’s no doubt about that. I’ll be watching closely because they’re both incredible.”
“He’s joining an Italian team where Charles has clearly been the number one for the past six years. It’s a pretty interesting dynamic, but I think it’ll be close between them.”
How Would Russell React if Max Verstappen Joined Mercedes?
If Andrea Kimi Antonelli fails to deliver, Toto Wolff might be tempted to do everything possible to lure Max Verstappen to Mercedes from 2026. The Mercedes power unit could be a major advantage over Red Bull Powertrains.
But does George Russell fear seeing the Dutchman arrive in Brackley?
“There is absolutely no pressure. All I have to do is keep going, do what I’ve always done in my career.”
“It doesn’t change anything. It’s not even something I think about. Because I believe in myself 100%. It’s as simple as that. If you perform, everything will come naturally.”
“I want to race against the best. I have no doubts about my abilities.”
George Russell, then, does not shy away from a direct showdown with Max Verstappen—on or off the track.
“I was never going to be intimidated. People always seem to back down against him. That’s not my way.”
“I’m not here to be a world champion’s best friend. I’m here to win. And that’s his mentality too. There’s no room for feelings.”
“I’ve never been afraid to race against Max. I’ve always fought.”
McLaren F1, the Clear Favorite?
For the new season, like many observers, George Russell sees McLaren F1 as the clear favorite. A way to put pressure on them?
“I don’t think we currently have a car capable of beating McLaren.”
“McLaren is, without a doubt, the strongest team. Their race pace is particularly impressive.”
Is the Mercedes F1 Not Up to the Level?
“There are clearly improvements across the car, no doubt about that. But naturally, there are always things to refine.”
“Last year, we struggled with low-speed understeer. There are still traces of that, and we’re working to fix those issues. We have some ideas to address it. But overall, the car feels more balanced.”
The FIA and Driver Censorship
As the new secretary of the GPDA, George Russell also spoke about Mohammed Ben Sulayem’s strict policy on banning swearing in press conferences.
“Things have gotten a bit out of hand in recent months with some of the decisions made,” he said, adding that he finds the FIA’s stance “unnecessary.”
“We’re not just race drivers; we’re also personalities. If someone wants to swear all the time, it will impact their image, whether the FIA intervenes or not.”
“There’s a time and place for everything. Our emotions need to remain true and authentic, especially on the radio or right after a race. That’s what makes this sport so pure.”
“If it’s during a Thursday afternoon press conference, in front of an audience, maybe it’s not necessary. But when it’s a moment of pure emotion, we should be allowed to be authentic.”
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Russell Unfazed by Verstappen: No Fear at Mercedes Russell Unfazed by Verstappen: No Fear at Mercedes Russell Unfazed by Verstappen: No Fear at Mercedes
