“I feel absolutely ready”: George Russell announces his F1 World Championship candidacy 

George Russell has been an F1 driver for 6 seasons now and is arguably in his prime. However, the Briton hasn't challenged for the world title despite driving for one of the top four teams. But things might take a turn in his favor in the upcoming year.

Russell will become Mercedes' lead driver next year as Lewis Hamilton leaves for Ferrari in one of F1's biggest switches. The Brit looks set to lead the team in a new capacity and recently announced his F1 World Championship candidacy.

George Russell and Max Verstappen at the 2024 Qatar Grand Prix Qualifying - Source: Getty

George Russell said (via The Times):

“I’ve been in F1 six years now, next year is my seventh, and my fourth year with the team. I feel absolutely ready to take my journey to the next level and I feel ready to fight for a championship. I feel ready to fight against Max [Verstappen] and if we get the opportunity, I’m not going to waste it.”

“I feel I’ve been ready for three years. I’m team-mates with the greatest driver of all time and if you’re ever finishing ahead of Lewis Hamilton or beating him in a championship, you know that probably in 12 other seasons that would have been enough to win, or at least fight for a world championship," he added.

Russell spent three years at Williams in a backmarker car. Yet, the 26-year-old put on amazing performances that earned him the Mercedes seat. However, by the time he joined the Brackley outfit, the new regulations were introduced, and Mercedes was dethroned by Red Bull. The Brit, alongside Hamilton, suffered in a fundamentally flawed car for a couple of seasons.

2024 put Mercedes back on the right track as Russell is on his way to finish ahead of Lewis Hamilton in the championship. The Silver Arrows had a strong end to their campaign and are potential contenders for the 2025 championship. Russell echoed this mentality as he believes he is ready to compete for the championship if he's given a competitive car.

“Everyone is beatable”: George Russell highlights Red Bull's 2024 mid-season downfall

The Mercedes driver commented on Lando Norris and McLaren’s inability to capitalize on Max Verstappen and Red Bull’s mid-season performance drop. Russell hopes to have a similar chance to capitalize on the championship opportunity as he pointed out the mistakes made by McLaren. Russell then suggested that the driver is only as good as the car, as was the case for Red Bull.

George Russell and Max Verstappen at the Qatar Grand Prix - Source: Getty

George Russell said (via The Times):

“There’s so much hype around Max. He’s such an exceptional driver, but the fact is, he’s won one race in the last 12 and it just goes to show everyone is beatable because you are at the mercy of your race car. The difference with him this year is he’s won every occasion that he’s had the chance, and his rivals haven’t.”

With rookie Kimi Antonelli joining George Russell as a teammate for the 2025 season, the Briton has a great opportunity to lead the team to a championship, similar to what Hamilton did in the late 2010s.