With Lewis Hamilton’s departure from Mercedes marking the end of a legendary era, many questioned whether George Russell was ready to take the reins. But just a few races into the 2025 season, the 27-year-old Brit has answered emphatically.
Russell has kicked off the season with a career-best run, finishing in the top five in each of the first five Grands Prix. While Mercedes may still be trailing the blistering pace of McLaren, Russell is consistently squeezing every bit of performance from the W16—both in qualifying and race conditions.
Though his talent has never been in doubt, Russell often flew under the radar while sharing the garage with seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton. Even when outperforming his more decorated teammate, he struggled to grab headlines—overshadowed by Max Verstappen’s dominance and Hamilton’s challenges.
Mercedes Team Principal Toto Wolff, speaking to Sky Sports F1 in Jeddah, acknowledged that dynamic.
“George is doing a top job,” Wolff said. “He’s always been consistent and focused, but the spotlight was usually on Lewis or Max. Now we’re seeing just how capable he truly is.”
With Hamilton now at Ferrari and Russell stepping into the role of lead driver at Mercedes, Wolff expressed full confidence in his driver’s performance. “He’s maximizing what’s in the car. He’s doing a really great job,” he added.
Since joining Mercedes in 2022 at the start of Formula 1’s ground effect era, Russell has rarely had the kind of machinery that lets him fully showcase his potential. But when the car has been competitive—on select circuits—he’s made it count, scoring poles and victories along the way.
Now, with Hamilton at Ferrari and still finding his footing, Russell has a prime opportunity to emerge from the long shadow of his former teammate and make a name for himself as a top contender. Currently, he sits just 26 points behind championship leader Oscar Piastri.
Russell’s resilience was on full display in Bahrain, where he overcame multiple technical issues—including a brake-by-wire failure, faulty steering wheel display, and a malfunctioning timing sensor—to finish second. Wolff highlighted the composure and mental strength required to adapt mid-race under such conditions.
“In a brake-by-wire failure, the pedal feedback constantly changes,” Wolff explained. “You need to adjust your steering and braking instinctively. That kind of performance shows how much cognitive power he has—and he just keeps improving.”
With Russell showing maturity, skill, and determination in equal measure, all that’s missing is a competitive upgrade from Mercedes. If the team can bring the W16 closer to the dominant McLaren MCL39, Russell could soon be challenging for wins—and perhaps even the title.