“So, George, how will it feel going up against Max Verstappen at Mercedes next year?” The question is posed to George Russell, with a hint of humor. Well, mostly. After a quick smile to acknowledge the playful nature of the question, Russell responds earnestly, as is his style.
“I obviously respect Max,” he says. “I respect all the drivers. As I mentioned in Bahrain last week, I’ve had the greatest driver of all time alongside me for… this being my third year at Mercedes.
“Max is certainly one of them. So is Fernando [Alonso, another driver linked with Lewis Hamilton’s seat once the seven-time world champion moves to Ferrari next year].
“But I’m happy with whoever is lined up alongside me because when I step into the garage, I don’t look at the other side. I focus on my garage, my team, my crew, and I work on myself. I believe in myself. I believe I can beat anyone. So, from my side, I’m pretty relaxed.”
This response echoes what Russell said in Wednesday’s FIA press conference in Jeddah – clearly well-rehearsed, diplomatic, showing self-confidence while acknowledging his competitors. But I’m not going to let him off that easily.
Verstappen is arguably the quickest driver of this or any generation. He also comes with considerable baggage. His father Jos, who attends most of his races, is no shrinking violet. Together they present a formidable challenge. Both have fiery tempers when pushed. Would Russell really welcome that at Brackley, just when it looked as if he would be the ‘senior’ statesman in any new partnership?
Russell doesn’t hesitate. “Absolutely,” he insists. “Max is very straightforward. There’s no nonsense with Max. Obviously, we had a bit of a run-in in Baku last year, but we laughed about it afterwards. There is no issue at all.”
That ‘run-in’ was one of the more competitive moments in a season dominated by Red Bull. Russell, who had the inside of a corner on the opening lap of the sprint race in Azerbaijan, made contact with Verstappen’s sidepod as they battled for position. Afterwards, a furious Verstappen confronted Russell in parc ferme, calling him a “d——-”. But Russell stood his ground. As he said at the time: “I’m here to fight, I’m here to win. I’m not just going to wave him by because he is Max Verstappen in a Red Bull.”
He didn’t take his helmet off, though, did he? Was that in case Verstappen took a swing at him?
“Haha, I’ve learned from experience,” Russell says, laughing.
There’s no doubt Russell is in a good place right now. At 26, he should be entering his prime, about to start his third season with Mercedes. He has experience of competing against and outperforming a multiple world champion (at least in their first season together). He has growing confidence in his technical abilities. He has a strong relationship with Toto Wolff, his team principal.
Hamilton, when asked in Bahrain if Russell could lead the team once he leaves, gave what seemed like a slightly backhanded compliment, describing Russell as “very technical” and “incredibly close with Toto”.
But Russell doesn’t disagree. He reveals at the start of our conversation that he spent the days between Bahrain and Saudi Arabia in Dubai with the Wolffs, playing padel with Toto’s wife Susie, his girlfriend Carmen, and his trainer Aleix Casanovas. “Everyone’s into padel these days,” he says.
Overall, he feels he’s in the perfect spot. “I really do. I mean, I look back to when Lewis joined Mercedes, how old was he, 27-28? I will be that age when we enter the new regulations in 2026.”
For now, Russell is focused on getting the most out of his Mercedes in Jeddah. He believes that without engine cooling issues in Bahrain, he would have been fighting Sergio Pérez for second place. That gives him confidence for the rest of the season.
“We know there was a guaranteed loss of 15 seconds just in power in Bahrain,” he explains. “And that’s purely power. That doesn’t take into consideration the effect the issue had on our tires, or having to overdrive to defend at certain points. We’d have been in the fight for second, no doubt about it.”
Russell is less optimistic about challenging Verstappen this year. “Oh yes, the championship is still going to Max and Red Bull,” he says.
Will it be closer than last year? Russell famously predicted at the season opener in Bahrain 12 months ago that Red Bull might win every race. “I was only one off,” he notes.
This year, he predicts there will be “more race winners just because there are five competitive teams”. But, he adds, Verstappen has such a speed advantage that he can set up his car for the race every weekend and still qualify at or near the front of the grid. Other teams don’t have that luxury. “If we give up two tenths on a Saturday, we’re losing maybe six positions on the grid,” he says.
However, Russell is confident that he’s in the right place for the long term. “Absolutely. Heading into 2026, Mercedes, with the new power unit, are in such a strong position. Probably alongside Ferrari, to be honest. They’re probably the two forces in that regard. And you know, by that point, I’ll be entering my fifth season with Mercedes. So yes, I feel in a great place. Whoever comes in next year, I don’t see that changing.”
Even if it’s Verstappen? Maybe the world champion, like Russell, will gamble that Mercedes is the best bet for 2026. Maybe if things don’t resolve between Jos Verstappen and Christian Horner, he’ll jump ship, if not next year then the one after? Russell smiles again.
“When I moved to Mercedes, I went up against Lewis who was in his eighth year. And he’d won six of those championships in eight years, which is more success than Max has had at Red Bull.
“But I wasn’t afraid at all. I relished the challenge and I’ve proven myself against Lewis. So, I have no fear jumping into any car alongside any other driver because I feel what I did was probably the hardest thing any driver could do.”
