P1racenews AI automatic summary:
George Russell has expressed that his prolonged contract talks with Mercedes throughout 2025 proved “no distraction” during the F1 campaign.
George Russell stated that the contract negotiations with Mercedes in 2025 did not distract him during the Formula 1 season, where he achieved two wins and nine podium finishes. Despite speculations about Max Verstappen, Russell excelled throughout the year. Mercedes delayed confirming Russell’s contract extension until after his win in Singapore. Russell’s relationships within the team were slightly affected by the delay, but he focused on his performance. Once the extension was announced, any distractions vanished, and Russell delivered his best performance under pressure. He learned valuable lessons about priorities and the importance of focusing on performance regardless of external noise. Russell’s mindset remained unwavering, believing that his driving performance should not be influenced by external factors.
