Russell: « I am absolutely ready to become world champion »

Propelled to Mercedes F1 leader following Lewis Hamilton's departure to Ferrari, George Russell shows his confidence and says he is absolutely ready to clinch a world title.

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After Lewis Hamilton’s surprise departure to Ferrari, George Russell finds himself propelled as the natural leader at Mercedes. Alongside him, an 18-year-old Italian rookie, Kimi Antonelli. A decisive turn for the Briton who, after three seasons spent in the shadow of the seven-time world champion, now has the opportunity to shape the future of the German team according to his vision.

Far from being intimidated by his new role, Russell displays a serene confidence in his ability to lead the team to the top. Asked by Sky Sports about his ability to win a world title if Mercedes provides him with a competitive car, the British driver responded without hesitation: «Yes, absolutely. I feel ready. The whole team is very motivated, and I feel that these last few years have been a period of trial and error, but every time we had a chance to win, we won. That’s what makes me optimistic: if we have the car, we can do it.»

The encouraging results of 2024

The 2024 season has moreover confirmed Russell’s potential, as he regularly got the upper hand over Hamilton in qualifying, securing four pole positions. However, the British driver remains clear-headed and knows that he still needs to improve to reach his goal: “Qualifying was my strong point last year, but my race pace wasn’t always optimal. I know I have the speed over one lap, but there’s no reason I can’t convert it over the race distance,” he stated.

While Hamilton’s departure and its impact on the Brackley team continue to make headlines, Mercedes director Toto Wolff has no doubts about Russell’s qualities and his ability to rise to the challenge: “We don’t talk enough about George. We have an experienced and accomplished driver who has won races,” said the Austrian boss, who sees him as a central element in the team’s rebuilding alongside the young Antonelli.

Russell has good reasons to be optimistic. Although Mercedes had a complicated start with the 2022 regulations, the team managed to progress and return to winning over time. Indeed, the German team secured four wins last season, demonstrating encouraging progress. However, the gap of nearly 200 points with McLaren, crowned constructors’ champion, remains significant.

The Challenges of 2025

For 2025, Mercedes hopes for significant developments on its new W16, which is scheduled to launch on February 24. Russell revealed that some of these modifications have been in preparation for a long time, elements we couldn’t put on the car in 2024 but have been working on for a while. We are optimistic it will be a good step in the right direction. Of course, you never know what our rivals will have done.

The 2025 season promises to be a full-scale test for George Russell. Gone is the relative comfort of just being a teammate. With a fiercely contested grid where the leading teams are gearing up for battle, it’s now up to Russell to embrace his new role as a leader and prove that he can be more than just a fast driver.

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