George Russell Claims He Is Driving Better Than Ever, Yet F1 Championship Seems Unlikely

Add as a preferred source on Google

George Russell believes his driving is at its peak, yet he acknowledges that a shot at the Formula One drivers' championship depends on McLaren faltering. The Mercedes driver clinched his team's first win of the season at the Canadian Grand Prix. During the race, McLaren's Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri collided, leading to Norris's retirement. Piastri now leads the drivers' standings by 22 points after 10 of 24 rounds, with Russell in fourth place, trailing Max Verstappen in third and 62 points behind Piastri.

Russell expressed surprise at how close he and Verstappen are to the McLaren drivers despite their dominant car. "I don't really know how Max and I are so close to those two [McLaren drivers] because they clearly have the most dominant car," Russell said. He credits their consistency and ability to maximise results each week. However, he doubts McLaren will continue losing points as they have been. "Of course, we hope that continues to be the case, but I don't foresee us getting in the championship fight through pure pace as Lando did last year," he added.

Russell's contract with Mercedes ends in 2025, but he remains optimistic about staying with the team. Sunday's victory strengthens his position. "I know I'm going to be on the grid next year. I feel that I'm driving better than ever," he stated. He also feels prepared for a world championship battle and believes there's more potential within him.

Speculation continues about Mercedes potentially signing Red Bull's four-time world champion Max Verstappen. Despite this, Russell has not considered joining another team and remains committed to Mercedes. "There haven't been any hard feelings with any of the talks that have been going around, especially around Max," he mentioned.

Russell understands why Verstappen would be a top choice if all drivers were free agents next year. "If every driver had no contract for next year, Max would be number one for every single team. And that's understandable," he noted. However, Russell feels secure in his position as long as he maintains his performance level.

Russell is confident that his current form ensures his place is not under threat. "I know if I continue to perform as I'm doing, my position would not be under threat whatsoever," he said confidently. His focus remains on maintaining strong performances throughout the season while hoping for opportunities to challenge McLaren's dominance.

The ongoing season presents challenges for Russell and Mercedes as they aim to bridge the gap with McLaren. While Russell acknowledges their rivals' strength, he remains hopeful that consistent performances can keep them competitive in the championship race.