George Russell brilliantly claimed the fourth victory of his Formula 1 career at the Canadian Grand Prix last weekend. It was his first-ever hat-trick as he also bagged pole and the fastest lap.
Russell’s pole lap was magnificent – he was the only driver to dip below the 1:11 barrier as he beat Max Verstappen and Kimi Antonelli. He then produced an accomplished performance on Sunday, where he looked to be in complete control throughout.
But one of his finest F1 weekends to date, Russell was also at the centre of some controversy. After qualifying, he joked that he had ‘a few more points on his license to play with’ than second-place Verstappen.
The Red Bull driver has racked up 11 of the permitted 12 in the last year, putting him on the verge of a race ban. During a late safety car period, Verstappen accused Russell of slowing down excessively to land him in trouble.
Overtaking under the safety car is against the regulations, but the Dutchman was only momentarily ahead. Red Bull protested Russell’s victory on the grounds of unsportsmanlike behaviour, much to the fury of Mercedes, but the stewards upheld the result.
Formula 1 insiders think George Russell ‘tries too hard’
According to a report from The Athletic, Russell’s post-qualifying interview has strengthened the pervasive feeling in the F1 paddock that ‘he just tries a bit too hard’.
Russell is a director of the Grand Prix Drivers’ Association alongside Williams star Carlos Sainz. He’s held that role since he was just 23.
Some feel that the Englishman is too keen to ‘wade into’ public debates. He was by far the most vocal critic of Verstappen’s driving style at the end of 2024.
Russell should no longer be classified as a ‘young driver’. In fact, he’ll reach the 150 Grand Prix mark this year, and he’s also become something of a mentor figure for rookie teammate Kimi Antonelli.
Are George Russell’s camp spreading false stories to spook Mercedes?
Russell’s contract expires in six months’ time, and it’s a little surprising that he’s yet to sign an extension despite his excellent form. Mercedes may have wanted to keep a seat open in case top target Verstappen expressed a willingness to leave Red Bull.
While he understands their interest in Verstappen, their lead driver is trying to put the team under pressure. One report claims Russell is ‘fuelling’ recent links to Aston Martin.
In reality, Russell’s camp have no intention of leaving Mercedes. Toto Wolff will be aware of that, which strengthens his negotiating position.
Still, the expectation is that Russell’s new contract will be announced shortly. The length of the deal will be a telling indication of Wolff’s long-term vision.
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