George Russell has made it to the podium three times this season. Although his Mercedes vehicle may not be a match for McLaren’s MCL39, he has often managed to extract the maximum from it. As a result, he is currently in fourth place in the championship, just fourteen points behind championship leader Lando Norris, as we approach the Saudi Arabian GP. However, the Briton rules out competing for the title this year.
George Russell was once asked what is expected of him this season. Despite his multiple podium finishes, he is not taken seriously as a title contender in the media. He previously stated that he does not concern himself with external opinions, but he now also acknowledges that he cannot compete for the championship – the McLarens are simply too strong.
‘We Can’t Keep This Up for Long’
“I would love to say that I have a chance at the title, but honestly, I don’t think so,” Russell told the media in Bahrain. “McLaren is just too dominant at the moment. We saw here in Bahrain what happens when they perform at their peak,” he said, referring to Oscar Piastri‘s flawless victory. The Australian crossed the finish line with a lead of over fifteen seconds.
“In the worst case, they perform as they did in China and Japan,” he continued. McLaren lost the sprint race in Shanghai to Ferrari and Lewis Hamilton, but reclaimed the first and second places in the main race. In Suzuka, the papayas once again secured a double podium, although Max Verstappen took the win. “We just have to keep scoring points,” Russell concluded. “In Bahrain, that meant P2 and in Melbourne P3. I don’t think we can keep that up for long, but who knows.”
