George Russell believes he is well positioned with Mercedes to contend for the Formula 1 World Championship as the sport approaches significant regulation changes in 2026. After delivering his strongest season yet, and with Mercedes expected to produce a highly competitive car, Russell is preparing to seize what could be a defining opportunity in his career for a title run.
Russell Steps Into Team Leader Role After Hamilton’s Exit
Following Lewis Hamilton’s departure, Russell transitioned smoothly into the role of team leader at Mercedes. Kimi Antonelli, his rookie teammate, spent much of the season building experience, while Russell consistently delivered strong results. Despite McLaren and Red Bull’s dominance—especially from Lando Norris, Oscar Piastri, and Max Verstappen—Russell secured victories in Canada and Singapore and claimed six additional podiums. Whenever Mercedes was off the pace, he still managed points in the top six, culminating in a solid fourth place in the drivers’ standings.
The 2025 campaign marked Russell’s seventh season in Formula 1 and his most mature performance to date. His ability to limit errors, a notable improvement from previous years, solidified his reputation as a reliable front-runner for Mercedes.
George Russell’s Confidence and Drive for the Championship
Russell has made it clear he feels ready for the challenge of a world championship fight, given the right machinery. Echoing the mindset of his contemporary Lando Norris, who broke through for McLaren, Russell hopes to capitalize should Mercedes’ W17 become the benchmark in Formula 1’s new era.
“I definitely know I can mix it with those guys at the top,”
Russell stated—George Russell, Driver. Acknowledging the level of competition, he added,
“Max is obviously the gold standard at the moment. I think he’s the one that I’d want to go head-to-head with. He’s the only driver on the on the grid that you’d want to be teammates with, to see your competitiveness with him.”
—George Russell, Driver.
Russell’s perspective has matured since his entry into Mercedes in 2022, when he anticipated immediate success after leaving Williams. The team’s struggle with new technical rules meant Russell needed patience, but he drew inspiration from the likes of Michael Schumacher, noting the importance of perseverance before championship victories arrived.
“I always remind myself of Schumacher at Ferrari,”
he reflected.
“It took five years with the team before the first championship. The majority of people don’t remember the four years of failure. But there were no championship wins. And for me to finish second in the championship, or 20th in the championship, honestly speaking, it’s kind of the same thing: you’re not winning.”
—George Russell, Driver.
Russell’s hunger to compete at the front was not dulled by previous years spent at the back of the field.
“Coming from Williams, when I was at the back every single weekend, that was so frustrating. But now I’m in this position, still not fighting for a championship, it isn’t really much different, if that makes sense… you’re either fighting for a championship or you’re not, and if you’re not, no one ever wants to fight for P2.”
—George Russell, Driver.
Balancing Aggression With Consistency
Throughout the 2025 season, Russell demonstrated increased maturity, especially by reigning in the aggressive moves that occasionally led to costly mistakes in the past. He attributed his payoff this year to a more measured approach, which helped him secure valuable results.
“I think that’s always been in my nature, pre-F1, and sort of helped me to secure championships,”
Russell said, reflecting on his journey.
“But it was just during my time with Lewis, I just sort of felt that I wanted to push myself to see if there’s more in the tank, and go beyond the limit and kind of see what happens. In [20]23, I wasn’t satisfied just fighting for podiums. I’d preferred pushing the boundaries more to try and get a highlight result, rather than just settling for a podium or a P4. And that sort of sort of bit me in the arse a bit. So I just reined it back a little bit this year, and in turn, it probably helped me get bigger results.”
—George Russell, Driver.
Embracing Leadership and Team Dynamics
While Russell was quick to downplay the personal significance of taking over as de facto team leader after Hamilton, he acknowledged the respect Mercedes has consistently shown its drivers. The opportunity to take part in more substantial team conversations has been welcome, but his motivation remains clear.
“I definitely wouldn’t say it’s something I was chasing,”
he admitted.
“The team has always been very respectful to the, let’s say, younger driver of the two. But naturally, in some of the bigger conversations you have a larger presence, which has been nice. But again, it’s not what I’m really here to do. I’m here to fight for wins.”
—George Russell, Driver.
Russell is also keenly aware of the boundaries between the responsibilities of drivers and engineers at Mercedes. He recognizes the importance of giving constructive feedback but notes that ultimate progress depends on how the technical teams respond.
“I think also you’ve got to remember your role sometimes as drivers. We’re not the ones designing the car to go quick. We give our input to say, ‘This is where we’re struggling, this is where I want improvements.’ But we’re not the ones who can go out and then actually make that happen. So you’ve got to know when to speak up and step in, but also know when to give that breathing room to the engineers to go and do their thing.”
—George Russell, Driver.
Teammate Dynamics: Russell and Antonelli’s Partnership
Looking ahead, Russell anticipates a stronger challenge from teammate Kimi Antonelli in the coming season. Antonelli showed flashes of raw speed towards the end of the latest campaign, suggesting he will be a more consistent threat as his experience grows.
“I think it’s always interesting having a new teammate, just to see how they approach things,”
Russell shared about Antonelli, who is just 19.
“And he’s obviously a young kid with a lot of energy, and that’s super-nice to see. And he has a very positive impact on the people in the team, which is great. Obviously, in our sport it always comes down to what you achieve on track, but he’s definitely shown signs of real speed. So I’m sure going into next year, he’s going to continue progressing. And you’ll probably see those moments more often.”
—George Russell, Driver.
Contract Security and Tensions with Team Management
Despite the outward stability at Mercedes, Russell’s future at one point appeared uncertain, with no guaranteed deal for the following year. Team principal Toto Wolff openly explored alternatives, including the possibility of signing Max Verstappen, raising questions about the intent to build the team around Russell and Antonelli.
Ultimately, Wolff secured Russell and Antonelli with new commitments, emphasizing that this was always part of the team’s long-term strategy. For Russell, resolving contract negotiations brought immediate clarity.
“Sometimes you’re appreciated if you think you’re getting your worth, and you feel unappreciated if you’re not, regardless of conversations that are going on. So that was kind of rectified quite quickly when we signed the deal—and for me, it was as simple as that.”
—George Russell, Driver.
Russell insisted that the uncertainty did not distract him on race weekends.
“It was no distraction. I just focused on the racing. And I guess there’s also some lessons for me that whatever the noise is that’s going on externally, there’s no real need to worry too much about that. You can be the nicest guy or the most hated one, but if you get in the car and you do the job, nobody remembers or thinks about the rest. They only care about the lap times.”
—George Russell, Driver.
George Russell’s Path Forward With Mercedes
Russell, who will turn 28 as he enters his eighth season and 153rd start in Formula 1, observes the shifting landscape as former rivals like Norris rise to championship glory. Notably, Norris, whom Russell bested to secure the 2018 FIA F2 crown, has recently dethroned Verstappen. As Mercedes hopes to replicate its previous success from the last major overhaul in 2014, Russell stands ready to make the most of the next chapter.
The foundation is set: Mercedes’ technical development, the team’s faith in its drivers, and Russell’s own evolution as a leader and competitor all align at a critical moment for both the driver and the organization. As Formula 1 prepares for sweeping regulatory changes, Russell’s alliance with Mercedes places him as a genuine contender to join the ranks of the sport’s champions—provided the team delivers the tools he needs in 2026.
