From competing at the back of the pack to a driver who can consistently achieve success, and yet his contract extension with Mercedes for the 2026 season only happened before the US GP in October 2025. Does George Russell, whose career has not been smooth sailing, have a chance to win the coveted world championship title this season and free himself from the role of a driver who still has to prove something?
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George Russell’s early years in F1 with the Williams team
George Russell began his Formula 1 career with the Williams team, alongside Robert Kubica. However, the team was in serious trouble at the time – the cars lacked pace, almost never scored points, and thus spent most of the season at the back of the field. The only consolation for George then might have been the fact that he usually won the internal competition between Williams drivers. The Briton always showed great respect to his team. Despite many pointing out that he was wasting his potential in a team that usually finished last, he was determined not to give up and race after race proved that he had immense talent and determination. The results were not encouraging, and frustration surely lurked within the driver himself, which in such conditions easily turns into self-doubt. Nevertheless, he got into the car wanting to prove that he was not on the track by chance.
When he finally managed to score two valuable points in the 2021 Hungarian Grand Prix, he did not hide his emotion. His strong reaction caused quite a media stir, and Russell quickly became a meme, which continues to this day. The driver himself often laughs about it, showing he has a great sense of humor about himself, but one might wonder why tears related to hard work and an incredible achievement caused such a strong reaction. Especially compared to other drivers whose tears often evoke sympathy from internet users. For some, it might be “just two points,” but for a driver who had to fight with himself, his ambition, and a very weak car for years, it was a significant achievement. So is George perceived differently by social media users? Certainly, the concept of masculinity pressure in sports can be invoked here, where even slight emotion and tears are widely commented on. Additionally, if we add the fact that Russell is known for very honest statements, especially critical ones, and the number of people who “dislike” him is quite large, we get an answer as to why he potentially falls victim to media witch hunts. This moment shows that the reception of emotions does not depend on their authenticity but on the narrative around the athlete.
The real breakthrough in his career was the 2020 Bahrain Grand Prix when he sat behind the wheel of the Mercedes W11, replacing Lewis Hamilton, who tested positive for coronavirus. Russell then took over the car of the seven-time world champion. Russell was noticeably taller than the regular Mercedes drivers that season; the car’s dimensions were not adapted to him, so he had to drive in shoes that were too small and a cockpit that was tight for him. Despite these difficulties, he excelled in qualifying and led the race until the safety car period and pit stop. Due to a team error, the Briton was fitted with two front tires from Valtteri Bottas, forcing him to pit again and losing his chance to win. The entire race, however, showed the enormous potential of a driver who only needs a competitive car to achieve good results. On a more psychological note, it was a very tough moment for the young Briton, who after the race emphasized feeling great disappointment, frustration, and devastation, and that the victory in such an important race was simply “taken away” from him.
Russell’s move to Mercedes and first real successes in F1
In 2022, George Russell moved to Mercedes, where for the first seasons he was the second driver behind the phenomenal Lewis Hamilton. Functioning alongside a figure like Hamilton meant not only sporting rivalry but also constant comparisons. Nevertheless, having a good car at his disposal, he began to regularly score points and stand on the podium (seven times), finishing the season fourth in the drivers’ standings. The most important moment of that season was his first victory in Brazil. Joy, emotion, renewed belief in himself and his skills, and faith that this was just the beginning of something extraordinary – these are the words that can describe what he achieved in his first winning race with Mercedes. The next season was somewhat less successful, with two podiums (both third places).
The beginning of 2024 brought sensational news about Lewis Hamilton’s transfer to Scuderia Ferrari. This meant that George Russell would finally become the lead driver of the German team, as his teammate for the next year would be the then 18-year-old Andrea Kimi Antonelli. The 2024 season alongside Hamilton was not ideal for Russell, as he stood on the podium four times in total, including two wins.
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Meanwhile, 2025 was a true display of Russell’s strength. He was the only driver, apart from the trio fighting until the end for the world championship – Piastri, Norris, and Verstappen – who won races. Additionally, he stood on the podium seven times and won twice. He was also the only driver who finished all races and failed to score points in only one of them. He sent a signal to his rivals that he was ready to fight for the world championship title.
Chance for the championship title in 2026 and again the need to prove his worth
During the winter break, media reports began to appear that Mercedes had built a “rocket car.” From the very beginning, they were considered favorites for both championship titles. This was to be confirmed by the first tests in Barcelona and the main tests in Bahrain, where they did not show their full power, as we could see during the first race weekend. In Australia’s practice sessions, both Russell and Antonelli drove well but did not pull away significantly from rivals. Then came qualifying, where in Q3 George Russell gained an enormous advantage over rivals outside the Mercedes team. Third-placed Isack Hadjar was almost 0.8 seconds behind the Briton. Everyone rubbed their eyes in amazement, and internet users had already declared Russell the “World Champion.” Sunday only confirmed the dominance of the Mercedes driver, who also thanks to a good team strategy took his first victory of the season. However, in China, the situation changed, as in the race the Briton was overshadowed by Kimi Antonelli, who won his first Formula 1 race and showed that he could be the biggest competition for the experienced Russell. And when some began to wonder if Antonelli’s phenomenal performance was a one-time “fluke,” he once again proved in Japan that it was not a coincidence by securing pole position in qualifying and then winning the race.
After the Japanese GP, the narrative completely reversed. Russell found himself again in a familiar role – a driver who has to prove his worth. The difference is that this time the opponent is not a weak car but a narrative that has already chosen its favorite. More and more voices appear in the media that the young Italian is now the most serious candidate for the world championship title, and George has been flooded with criticism. Many accuse him of lacking skills and emphasize that he only wins races thanks to the “rocket car.” It should be noted here that the Briton was one of the unlucky ones in the mentioned race, as he pitted a lap before the safety car came out, which dashed his chances of a podium. In post-race interviews, he repeatedly emphasized that it was a bad weekend for him and that luck was clearly on the other side of the German team’s garage. This caused dissatisfaction among fans, who began to “vent their frustrations” in comments, saying the driver has no right to complain, having such a well-constructed car at his disposal. To make matters worse, rumors appeared in the media about a possible transfer of Max Verstappen to Mercedes. Internet users agree that he would replace George, not Toto Wolff’s “golden boy” – Kimi Antonelli. Such news certainly does not help Russell, who had to fight almost until the end of last season for a contract extension. It might seem that in his case, history keeps repeating itself, and despite being an experienced driver, he still has to struggle with the pressure of proving his skills.
Looking at George’s career from a broader perspective, we can see it has not been smooth. He always had to fight for his place in the field – first the opponent was an uncompetitive car, then teammates. And when it seemed that this season could belong to the Briton, Kimi Antonelli joins the fight, who is no longer seen as a “harmless rookie without experience.” And now the question arises: if the situation arises where both Mercedes drivers go “head to head” in the fight for the title, who will the team bet on? The one who had to prove for years that he deserves a place in the team? Or the young talent? We will find out the answers only in a few months. However, it may turn out that the season that was supposed to be Russell’s dream season will very quickly become another nightmare season. Because perhaps George Russell’s biggest challenge is not beating rivals but proving – once and for all – that he no longer has to prove anything.
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The author of the article is Aleksandra Binkowska, you can find her on TikTok – link.
