Overview
- Russell says he wants a head-to-head with Max Verstappen, calling the Red Bull driver the current gold standard.
- He won in Canada and Singapore and was the only non‑title contender to take a grand prix in 2025.
- He posted 18 top-five finishes in 24 races, missed points only once with 11th in Monaco, and is on a 45‑round run without a race‑ending crash.
- Toto Wolff lauded an “outstanding” season, citing nine podiums, fourth in the drivers’ standings, and near‑perfect finishing and qualifying consistency.
- Mercedes has installed Russell as team leader alongside rookie Andrea Kimi Antonelli and secured his future after Verstappen chose to stay at Red Bull.