George Russell honestly admits that he misses Max Verstappen in the title fight so far this season. The two drivers have had arguments in the past, but according to the Mercedes driver, respect has now returned. However, Russell disagrees with the world champion on one point: ‘I personally like the 2026 car’.
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George Russell held the lead in the world championship for the first time in his Formula 1 career this season. Although teammate Andrea Kimi Antonelli has since dethroned the Mercedes driver, the Brit is still a serious title contender. One person who has been missing from the title fight so far this season is Max Verstappen, due to Red Bull’s difficult start to the season. A shame, Russell thinks.
When asked if he would like Verstappen to be in the fight, Russell replied to BBC Sport: “Yes, I would.” The Brit has had clashes with the four-time world champion in the past, but now things are ‘fine’ between the two drivers. “We do have some respect for each other. And I have a lot of respect for what he does on track,” Russell says. “He’s driving his GT cars now and really enjoying it. And honestly, if I were a four-time world champion, I’d probably do the same. Because he has achieved what I am still striving for.”
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“I would never forgive myself if, while I was in the championship fight, I started doing other activities,” the Mercedes driver continues. “But if you’ve achieved everything he has, then that’s great for him.”
‘I really like the car myself’
Verstappen has already regularly criticized the 2026 challengers this season, but Russell doesn’t agree. “I personally really like the car,” the British driver even says. “The power unit and the engine are clearly different. The new rules offer the chance to fight harder and to have an exciting race. Lewis (Hamilton, ed.) had a good point there: in a kart race, you overtake someone in one corner, and then they overtake you back. Nobody ever calls that Mario Kart or yo-yo racing. We actually call it pure racing and great racing.”
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