General
George Russell really makes a case for being Mercedes' natural leader
- Ludo van Denderen
Questions will be asked about George Russell's contract situation during the season, there is no doubt about that. After all, his last deal signed with Mercedes expires after the current season, and there is also no doubt about that the Max Verstappen rumours will emerge once again at some point. However, after two Grands Prix in '25, there seems no reason for Mercedes to push Russell aside, as he emerges more convincingly as a natural leader of the team.
With third place finish behind the untouchable McLarens, Russell finished on the podium for the second week in a row. The Brit could not have wished for a better start to the season; always near the front of the field and at some point during a race, things are bound to go his way. Above all, there will be the joy that the Mercedes have a car that structurally competes for finishing on the podium, after what were difficult years in which sometimes being ahead of the middle of the pack was the maximum.
Russell has continued to grow as a driver
Perhaps more importantly for Russell, he has grown enormously as a driver. After the departure of Lewis Hamilton to Ferrari, Russell is the man Toto Wolff looks to as the driver who should consistently grab the results. Of course, it is still early on this season, but Russell so far did not make a mistake yet and maximised every weekend.
" The last two races, or the three races with the Sprint as well—the result we achieved was the maximum in all three," Russell said on Sunday after the race in China. "So that gives me a lot of satisfaction. And if we do deliver a car that is capable of fighting McLaren, I’ve no doubt we can finish ahead, because we’re doing such a solid job as a team. So yeah, we need to keep on pushing."
Great times seem to be waiting for Russell
Russell's teammate, Kimi Antonelli is a great talent, but he is also a rookie and therefore not someone expected to compete for the top three spots every week. The stable factor really has to be Russell. Of course, it is partly logical that the Brit thus takes that leadership role in the team and is the man who should basically ensure wins.
But it is never a certainty. There are plenty of examples of drivers who once stepped out of the shadow of a world-class driver, then got the limelight and then crumbled under pressure. It is not looking to be that way for Russell, who actually seems to have gained charisma and racing prowess. If the Brit can continue this trend, it could well be his best year in Formula 1 so far.