George Russell is entering one of the most important years of his Formula 1 career in 2025 with his Mercedes contract set to expire at the end of the season.
The Brit is the new team leader at the Silver Arrows after Lewis Hamilton’s departure to join Charles Leclerc at Ferrari.
Russell had an edge over Hamilton in qualifying in 2024 which led some people to believe that the seven-time champion may be past his best.
But it was an equal indication of just how strong Mercedes’ new team leader can be. Partnering Russell with young Andrea Kimi Antonelli for 2025 gives the Italian a chance to learn before a big 2026 season.
Chasing the likes of McLaren and Ferrari down with a rookie driver will be tough, but they improved towards the end of last season and fourth place in the Constructors’ Championship shows that they aren’t far off the top.
Another winter of development could leave them on the heels of their rivals as long as they’re able to figure out some of their tyre issues at hotter circuits.
George Russell matched rare 40-year-old F1 record set by Ayrton Senna
Although Russell had the overall measure of his teammate in 2024, it was in qualifying where he dominated his fellow Brit.
He defeated Hamilton by a margin of 19-5 and claimed three pole positions to the seven-time champion’s none. In fact, the Ferrari driver made the top three on just two occasions.
Nobody at Mercedes could explain Hamilton’s struggles compared to Russell but we may find an answer at some stage in the 2025 season based on how he gets on at the Scuderia.
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Russell had an average qualifying position of 5.17 – enough for third best behind Max Verstappen and Lando Norris who were the top two in the Drivers’ Championship.
Taking the Qatar Grand Prix into account, where he started on pole position after a one-place grid penalty for Verstappen, Russell started on pole position four times in 2024.
He became the second driver since Ayrton Senna (1985) to start from pole four times in a car that finished fourth or lower in the Constructors’ Championship.
Can Russell compete for the F1 title in 2025?
The title favourites heading into 2025 are McLaren’s Norris and Red Bull’s Verstappen by a clear margin based on form and resources.
It’s the final year before the new technical regulations which arrive in 2026 and should shake up the field and introduce some new players at the front.
It means that everyone can go all-in without any of the usual long-term risks associated if they want to chase a championship this season.
Mercedes have been tipped to dominate from 2026 after positive murmurs about their new power unit, a confidence last seen by them in 2014.
READ MORE: Mercedes have now ‘set their sights’ on two Max Verstappen alternatives for 2026
Curing their inconsistencies at warmer circuits in 2025 would make Mercedes and Russell an immediate contender.
His qualifying form isn’t going to be an issue, but if Antonelli gets up to speed quickly he could ruffle his new teammate’s feathers.
