After a 2025 that established him as a cornerstone of Mercedes, George Russell aims for the World Championship, citing Max Verstappen as his benchmark
George Russell’s 2025 wasn’t a title-winning year, but it was undoubtedly the season of his definitive breakthrough. In a Formula 1 campaign dominated until the final race by the three championship contenders, the Brit managed to stand out as the only driver outside that group to claim victories, establishing himself as Mercedes’ technical and sporting reference point.
Consistency as the foundation for the future
A performance that played a significant role in the Constructors’ Championship battle: Mercedes finished second, largely thanks to the consistency of their lead driver. In addition to his two victories in Canada and Singapore, Russell demonstrated near-perfect regularity, scoring points in 23 of the 24 races. The only exception came in Monaco, where he finished 11th.
It’s no surprise, then, that Russell considers 2025 his most complete and effective season, as reported by Autosport: “It was definitely my most solid season in terms of performance: the most consistent and with the fewest mistakes. Overall, yes, it was.“
He has no lack of confidence in his own abilities. Russell is convinced he can compete with the best, while clearly pointing out the benchmark on the grid: “I know I can mix it with the top drivers. Max Verstappen is the absolute reference at the moment. He’s the one I would want to go head-to-head with, even as a teammate, to truly gauge my level.”
Looking ahead to the next season, Russell looks to history to strike the right balance between ambition and patience. His model is Michael Schumacher, who built success at Ferrari over time, winning his first World Championship in Maranello only on his fifth attempt after several difficult years. “I always remind myself that it took Schumacher five years with Ferrari before winning his first title. Everyone remembers the glory years, but few recall the seasons without championships.“
A way of thinking that also led him to reassess the value of finishing positions: “Finishing second or twentieth, honestly, is almost the same thing. If you don’t win the championship, it doesn’t really matter. I learned that even back in my Williams days. You either fight for the title or you don’t—nobody dreams of fighting for second place.“
Russell is ready, but he’s in no rush. After this season, his career enters a phase where his value no longer needs to be proven, but turned into results when the technical context allows it. “I’m ready, but I know my time will come. I have to be patient. “
Photos: Mercedes-AMG PETRONAS F1 Team
