George Russell says he’s equal to Max Verstappen as he tips himself to become world champion ahead of the F1 2025 Miami GP, adding he and Mercedes feel ready to challenge for the crown.
With three podiums to his name in the early stages of the 2025 Formula 1 season, the Brit is fourth in the standings and is some 26 points behind McLaren’s Oscar Piastri, 16 behind Lando Norris and 14 behind Verstappen.
The 27-year-old sits 26 points ahead of Charles Leclerc’s Ferrari and is part of the lead four cars that have broken away from the rest of the pack in the opening five rounds of the year.
Should Mercedes manage to find lap time through their upgrade plans and take a step forward towards McLaren, then their star driver could be well-poised to challenge for the world championship.
And buoyed by an impressive performance against Lewis Hamilton in 2024, Russell says he’s equal to Verstappen ahead of the F1 2025 Miami GP as he vows he’s ready to win the title.
“I feel absolutely ready to win the world championship, to be honest,” Russell told The Athletic. “Every time we’ve had half a chance to win or pole, we’ve been the ones to take it.
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“I feel that I am getting stronger and stronger every season. I feel ready and have confidence in myself. I believe I am equal to any driver on the grid.
“I will never say that my performance is the best, because I think if you believe you are at the top it is the beginning of the decline. You always have to believe you can give more.”
Russell gifted Mercedes AMG One by the Silver Arrows
Russell comes into the F1 2025 Miami GP full of good spirits after receiving a very rare gift from Affalterbach as the Silver Arrows reward his performances with a Mercedes AMG One car.
A road-legal hypercar, only 275 units of the vehicle will be made and the Brit is now one of the elite few to own the package; featuring technology from Mercedes’ W06 championship-winning car, which won 16 races out of 19 in 2015, taking 18 poles and securing 32 podiums.
Clocking a top speed of 352kph/218mph, the car is capable of going from 0-200kph/124mph in seven seconds flat and also features active aerodynamics to lower drag.
If the driver selects Strat 2 mode, the chassis will tighten up and active aero comes into play by lowering the ride height of the car. The engine is turned up to full wick, simulating a Formula 1 qualifying experience.
“MY DREAM CAR!!! @MercedesAMG ONE!!” Russell posted to Instagram. “So honoured to own this car and it’s been a dream of mine ever since I joined Mercedes F1 back in 2017!!
“Crazy that the engine is a modified version from our 2015 F1 car – the first ever Mercedes F1 car I drove. What a beast!!!”
