Russell takes his pick at the 2025 champion: 'I still believe in myself!'
F1 News
George Russell has taken his pick for the 2025 Formula 1 title before the action begins in Australia. The Mercedes driver doesn't believe Max Verstappen will become the world champion this year. Speaking in Melbourne, the Briton expressed confidence in his own chances of fighting for wins but hesitated to put himself forward as a potential 2025 champion. Instead, he’s backing McLaren's Lando Norris for the title.
"Well, I think I know where we stand from Bahrain specifically," Russell told Viaplay. "But when you look at last season, if winter testing was in Las Vegas, I would think we would win every single race of the season. If winter testing was in Singapore, I think we would not win a single race. So, you know, in Bahrain, we were probably just the second-best team, very close with Ferrari and Red Bull.”
However, it remains to be seen whether Mercedes can maintain this position throughout the season, especially given how tight the margins are at the top. Mclaren, Ferrari, Red Bull, and Mercedes are all expected to be fighting for race wins in 2025.
Russell picks Norris as the 2025 world champion
Russell was then asked who he thinks will win the world championship this year. "That’s a good question," he laughed. "I mean, right now I believe in myself, and I believe every single weekend that this can be our weekend. I’m going to take my name away from this - because I never like to say: I will do this, and I will do that. But if I take my name away or Mercedes away, I would say Lando’s going to win."
This article was written in collaboration with Kim Hoefnagel
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