Primed and able to converse within the acquainted environment of the dimly lit motorhome, has the aura of a person who is aware of how vital 2025 is in his System One profession. His seventh season total, fourth with Mercedes, and first with out as his teammate. Unyielding in his self-confidence and steadfast in his views, it’s time to step as much as the mantle. With a contract expiring on the finish of the season, it’s time to be No 1.
“I don’t really feel I’ve reached my peak but,” Russell tells The Unbiased in Imola, having recorded 4 podiums in six races, his finest begin to a season. “What’s modified? It’s been an evolution… I used to be simply driving at 110 per cent too typically previously.
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“I used to be on the lookout for these huge wins and I didn’t care if it got here on the expense of the odd mistake. I bought some huge wins, pole at Silverstone… however made errors in Montreal and Singapore.
George Russell is coming into a vital interval of his System One profession with Mercedes (System One/Getty)
“However now I’ve realised it’s all about being constant, that’s the true me, that’s how I gained F2 and F3. After I jumped in as teammates with Lewis [in 2022], I used to be in on the deep finish as a result of my studying curve had simply flatlined at Williams. I learnt extra in my first few races at Mercedes than in my final 18 months at Williams.
“However now, I do know when to show the dial up and when to scale back it. I’ve been getting higher and higher – and I don’t see the plateau level.”
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Russell’s with four-time F1 world champion on the back-end of final yr, the place he labelled the Dutchman a “bully”, accentuates his confident and steely mindset, each with the visor down and amid the helter-skelter surroundings of the paddock.
His duties additionally lengthen past Mercedes F1 driver; the 27-year-old is a director with the GPDA (Grand Prix Drivers’ Affiliation), successfully a commerce union for the 20 drivers on the grid. A job he took on in 2021, Russell has successfully been the drivers’ spokesperson within the wake of chaos on the FIA.
The saga over swearing, which Russell describes as “ridiculous”, has been one among varied long-running disputes between the game’s governing physique and people within the cockpit. Russell is probably the most energetic within the drivers’ WhatsApp group, his teammate Kimi Antonelli revealed earlier this month. Nonetheless, he doesn’t remorse taking over the function.
Russell speaks to The Unbiased after his best-ever begin to an F1 season (Mercedes)
2025 is Russell’s first season at Mercedes with out Lewis Hamilton as his teammate (Getty)
“In the end, once I signed as much as the GPDA, no person imagined the flip of occasions which have occurred in latest instances,” he says, with a warning relating to the longer term route of the game.
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“F1 is driving a wave in the mean time, however it doesn’t take a lot for all of it to come back crashing down. F1 and Liberty Media [commercial owners] have performed a fantastic job with stuff like Vegas, Netflix, and the F1 film. However issues are so turbulent on the extra occasion [the FIA], and so they maintain a lot energy within the sport.
“If that comes collapsing down, the entire thing can probably collapse.”
George Russell’s F1 profession (2019-current)
Seasons: 6
Races: 135
Wins: 3 (Brazil 2022, Austria 2024, Las Vegas 2024)
Podiums: 19
Pole positions: 5
Factors: 813
Finest championship end: 4th, 2022
Russell articulates his responses to issues, which primarily embody F1’s complicated political sphere, with spectacular eloquence and maturity. A lot so, maybe, that in one other life a political profession isn’t a far-fetched suggestion?
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“I don’t suppose so, however by no means say by no means in life,” he chuckles. “I need to win and achieve success, whether or not that be enjoying padel or playing cards or racing.
“I’ll put my very own definition on what success is. However being completely happy can also be being profitable. My brother [Benjy] has three youngsters and is happier than ever. I take a look at him and that’s success.”
It’s straightforward to turn into embroiled absolutely within the madcap, globetrotting world of the F1 ecosystem, however Russell stays grounded regardless of his eager urge for food for race victories. “I learn the information every day, it provides me perspective,” he says.
“We expect at instances that is an important factor on the planet. It’s not. Toto [Wolff, Mercedes CEO] isn’t right here this weekend as a result of his son is graduating, after all that’s extra necessary. After we went by the pandemic, f***ing hell, that was larger than every part.
Russell is a GPDA director and has been outspoken in his views on F1’s governing physique, the FIA (Getty)
The 27-year-old alongside Mercedes boss Toto Wolff in Bahrain final month (Getty)
“What am I going to be completely happy about? On this world, we’re surrounded by so many profitable folks. Some are pushed by cash, however if you happen to take Musk, Bezos or Invoice Gates, that isn’t their definition of success. With Gates, for instance, it could be his charity work. He’ll cross being glad or not by the influence he’s having there.”
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With Russell, it’s clear-cut for now: he’s at all times striving for brand spanking new heights. Extra efficiency and extra race wins. But additionally, extra time to relaxation.
“Burn-out is a semi-regular prevalence,” he reveals, amid 24 races a yr throughout six continents and a swathe of business and sponsorship appearances. He notes that every one his off-track engagements might be a crucial component of upcoming contract negotiations with Mercedes, which he insists he’s “relaxed” about.
“In the end, I’m not going to take a seat right here and say my life is tough. It isn’t. Nevertheless it’s about remembering that I’m knowledgeable athlete, prime 5 on the planet at what I do. It’s about working at 100 per cent. If I’m not, I can’t carry out.
Russell on the rostrum after his most up-to-date win in Las Vegas final November (Getty)
“The racing is the straightforward bit. I’d be pleased with extra races, with out the opposite stuff that goes with it.”
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In fact, by “stuff”, he additionally means media commitments, of which he has a mess each Thursday of race week, making his participating and considerate responses all of the extra noteworthy.
His priorities stay apparent, although. Becoming a member of Mercedes at simply the incorrect time – his first season in 2022 marked the tip of the Silver Arrows’ close to decade-long dominance of the game – Russell is determined for the candy style of victory to turn into a weekly regularity. New engine and chassis guidelines in 2026, at this early stage, seem geared in direction of a possible Mercedes renaissance.
“What drives me? I merely need to win,” he concludes, forward of spherical eight this weekend in Monaco, the place he resides away from the racetrack.
“Some folks need cash, some need happiness, some need that achievement. However you want to inform your self which one it’s, then chase your personal goals. And never the goals of another person.”
