Overview
- Russell calls Verstappen the current benchmark and says he would relish a direct comparison, even as team-mates, to gauge his level.
- He asserts he is ready to fight for a championship yet emphasizes patience as he waits for the right opportunity.
- He points to the 2026 technical overhaul as the moment Mercedes can consistently contend again, a view widely tipped across the paddock.
- Since joining Mercedes he has won five grands prix, and the team has not taken the drivers’ title since 2020.
- Following Lewis Hamilton’s move to Ferrari, Russell has taken on Mercedes’ lead role and cites Michael Schumacher’s early Ferrari years as a model for perseverance.