2026-04-26 09:33:12
George Russell hasn’t given much thought to winning the F1 world championship.
The British driver appears set to have his best chance yet at winning the title this season as his Mercedes team have dominated the opening three races of the campaign but he insists that his mindset hasn’t particularly changed.
In an interview with BBC Sport, Russell said: “I’m just going about my process day to day. Every time I get in a race car, I don’t think about the big picture, which is winning the championship.
“I just think about here in the moment, you know, going out and qualifying. How am I going to drive the fastest lap possible for the race? How am I going to get the best race start, the best race? Trying to stand on the top step (of the podium) and just go about my business like that.
“Of course I know that we’re in this fight, but it’s not something that I’m even thinking about. Because I know to win the championship, you’ve just got to go through those processes.”
Russell trails Mercedes team-mate Kimi Antonelli by nine points in the early standings but insists that he would welcome some outside competition in the title fight.
The six-time Grand Prix winner said: “I’ve got to be honest. I do love the competition. It just keeps it exciting.
“I love winning when there is massive competition. And that’s like every day of life. I want my competitor to be given everything because I want to be able to… I want to beat them knowing they’ve given their all. And that’s what drives me. So my view is the more the merrier.”
Russell also acknowledges that he has a fight on his hands against Antonelli.
He said of the Italian teenager: “He’s a fantastic driver. I saw it last year. He showed lots of signs of great speed. But it’s very early days and I’m sure it’s going to be very close.”
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