Russell: 'Max is just doing the job when the car's given the opportunity'

In the run-up to the Austrian Grand Prix, George Russell was asked which three drivers are performing best this season, discounting for convenience the quality of the car they are driving. "I don't know, to be honest," the Mercedes driver initially responded. "I think we're all so focused on our own job." To add: "obviously Max is the one doing the solid job week in, week out. He's the number one at the moment. Number two and number three, no one else cares about. We're all after number one. So, yeah, Max is spot at the moment."

'Hard to judge'

When Russell is submitted that he actually didn't answer the initial question, the Briton responds, "Yeah, I mean, this sport is incredibly difficult to judge and it's... I think that's the challenge with Formula One. We've said it before. As drivers, we want to be in a position where we can go head to toe, week in, week out, with everyone on a level playing field. In an ideal world, all of the cars are the same. And then we truly know."

Russell is referring to the fact that for years Verstappen won a single Grand Prix in a season. Now the Dutchman is a glutton. "So it's not because he suddenly got a second lap faster over three years of driving. He's just doing the job when the car's given the opportunity. So, yeah, many drivers are doing a good job. Fernando's doing a good job. Lewis is doing a good job. Lando’s doing a good job. Oscar’s done a good job."