George Russell ready for any teammate: 'I'd welcome anybody'

Speaking on media day in Miami, Russell was asked about the situation with his future teammate, to which he responded: "Toto has always kept me up to date. He doesn't need to ask my view or my opinion. I'd welcome anybody. Having a chance to sign something like Max, every team would go for it. And as I said before, I'd love to have that opportunity to go against Max. I feel privileged to have had the chance of being teammates with Lewis, who still is, statistically, the greatest driver of all time. And, week in, week out, battling it out. So to get the chance again to do that with somebody like Max would be great for me, personally, because I believe in myself and my abilities," said the confident Brit, who has continued to speak about the possibility of Max Verstappen joining the Brackley-based team. He knows, however, that the decision is not up to him: 

"I think from Mercedes, it's, of course, a long-term project. We've got the big rules coming up in 2026. It's important to have good harmony between 25 and 26. Ultimately, I think it goes down to the 2,000 people at the factory, between the engine, the chassis, and the new fuels that are coming, which is ultimately going to make the biggest difference. But of course, as I said before if we can sign Max, then we will."

Is reliable Russell Mercedes' number one?

George Russell is the only non-Red Bull and Ferrari driver to have won a Grand Prix since the start of the ground effect era (post-2021). The Brit secured his maiden victory in Brazil in 2022 and has reason to be confident.  

"As I said before, when I joined Mercedes, I was joining a team that had won over 100 races and six championships with this team, and over the course of these two and a half years, I think I've fared pretty well, I guess. So I don't think I need to prove anything to Mercedes or to anybody else in this paddock. I know what I'm capable of. And ultimately, the results speak for themselves, and nobody knows who the quickest driver in the world is or who's the best driver out there, because you can only go as fast as your car allows you. So everybody's just based on their teammate. And as I said, I feel like I've got a pretty good teammate, as I do, and I want to prove more. I want to show more, of course, and I want to fight for championships, but having been Lewis’ teammate for three years, I don't feel that I need to prove my worth."

Russell will be hoping to score some important points this weekend in the Sunshine State, with Mercedes looking to close the 44-point gap to third-place McLaren.