George Russell: “Ready to fight for the championship”
After a remarkable victory at the Singapore Grand Prix on Sunday, Mercedes driver George Russell expressed his confidence in being ready to compete for the world title. This victory represents Russell’s fifth in his career and the second this season, after his triumph at the Canadian Grand Prix in June. The circuit where he achieved the victory was the same one where Russell suffered an accident two years ago, which he considers proof of his progress as a driver.Russell also commented on his mental state before the race and how his approach has evolved. “Of course, I was nervous before the race, as expected, but I didn’t feel any extra nerves or extra pressure. I just felt it was another race, and I knew I had the opportunity to win, and I felt comfortable with that.” Since joining Mercedes in 2022, Russell hasn’t had a car capable of fighting for championships. In three seasons as Lewis Hamilton’s teammate, he was only two points behind the seven-time champion. Currently, he leads his rookie teammate Kimi Antonelli by 149 points after 18 races. Russell believes he has matured as a driver in the last two years and would make the most of a car capable of achieving consistent victories throughout a season. “I think it comes with experience, just knowing how to maximize each situation. Probably a couple of years ago I was driving a bit more tense and probably forcing in circumstances where I shouldn’t have. Now I feel much more relaxed. Coming in today, I was relaxed. When it rained an hour before the race, I just said, you know, it is what it is. It’s the same for everyone. There’s nothing I can do, so there’s no point in stressing. I think I, a few years ago, would have been a bit different.”I am a very different driver today than I was a couple of years ago, and I feel more complete, more confident. I know exactly what I need to do in certain circumstances.
George Russell
