P1racenews AI automatic summary:
George Russell explained how using Lewis Hamilton’s performance in F1 in 2021 became a benchmark for him as he summed up 2025 as his “strongest year”.
In 2025, George Russell considered it his strongest year, citing Lewis Hamilton’s performance in Formula 1 in 2021 as a benchmark for him. Despite the Mercedes W16 falling short of McLaren and Red Bull, Russell had a stellar season, finishing fourth in the Drivers’ standings with 319 points and securing nine podiums, including wins in Canada and Singapore.
It was Russell’s first year as the de facto team leader at Mercedes, with Hamilton moving to Ferrari and rookie Andrea Kimi Antonelli joining as his new teammate. Russell emphasized his improvement in points, podiums, consistency, and fewer mistakes compared to previous seasons, making 2025 his standout year.
Mercedes has been tagged as favorites for the new 50-50 hybrid era in 2026 based on early performance indicators, setting the stage for a competitive season with McLaren, Williams, and Alpine as their partners. Russell’s impressive performance has put him in a strong position to challenge for his first championship title if Mercedes can deliver a competitive car.
Overall, 2025 was a defining year for George Russell, with his success on track and growing leadership role at Mercedes laying a promising foundation for the future of his racing career.
