The Frustrating Career of George Russell So Far

[@teamredgutz399]

I rate the odds of Max actually joining Mercedes at slim to none. If you have spent time around Mercedes, the team is kind of corporate and Max is exactly the opposite. If Max went there, he would be expected to toe the line and behave himself and say and do things in a manner that I don’t think he would be comfortable with. Max is an absolute individualist and requires a lot of freedom. That doesn’t really square with Mercedes or Ferrari where the team comes first. Culturally, if Max decides to leave Red Bull, the best fit for him is Aston Martin. Aston Martin knows full well how to treat a rugged individualist multiple world champion like a king. Seb was happy there and Fernando is happy there culturally. And if they actually produce a winning car with Honda and Adrian Newey, the pull to Max could be irresistible if he decides Red Bull is no longer cutting it as no one thinks they’re going to produce a really competitive power unit for 2026 in their first effort ever to do so. Mark my words, we’re not going to see Max at Mercedes.

[@Carlos-ln8fd]

Aston with Max would be awesome

[@Thepc425]

Window licker will still be in Aston tho

[@CJ-cz3hv]

Max seems very loyal, i think him and GP leaving redbull would be him retiring

[@darkiboi]

In Aston you either respect daddy stroll (and lance) or you're out, not something I see max doing. (unless both strolls leave the team)

[@bornanagaming3329]

The Strolls unfortunately can't leave since they fund the team

[@azapro911]

It is incredible to consider how unfortunate his timing is. Beats Norris and Albon to the F2 title, gets promoted to by far the worst seat. Becomes a clear Mercedes level prospects, gets his chance just as they start to suffer with the current regs.

[@11darshsahu49]

Is that George Russell from the hit team yadiyada Williams who beat Kimi Antonelli in equal machinery and then threw his career?

[@hetjoch2792]

It's kind of sad that George always seems to be two steps behind Leclerc and Lando. Both have multi-year contracts, which shows their teams' confidence in them. Leclerc drove a championship-worthy car at the start of 2022, and Lando had one in 2024, but neither could secure the title. George, however, hasn’t even had those chances yet.

[@LorenzoCorrado19]

He will show us what he can do once he has a car

[@Vislow]

I'm not sure what you watched in 2023 but it was not F1

[@J-Eagan]

*2024

[@fafnir-_-5526]

It's a bit of exaggeration saying lectern drove a world championship car in 2022 , I mean the whole year for him was a disaster the Ferrari eventually fell off and was Miles behind the red bull and the team let him down massively throughout the entire season, so we still need to see a proper car for Charles in a championship fight in the future

[@kaeden2502]

@@J-Eaganis that fair to say? It was one of the best seasons in a while, especially if you remove the first quarter of the season

[@Slippodip]

Russel’s career reminds me of Daniel Riccardo’s, but his hopefully it doesn’t end up like Riccardo.

[@ShakAKA12]

He’s better than Danny ric

[@JohnWiku]

​@@ShakAKA12 Bro got flipped by rookie Alonso's wake, he's no where near Danny Ric, or Max Verstappen.

[@ShakAKA12]

@@JohnWiku Danny ric isn’t near max verstappen bro Ricciardo got matched by hulkenberg at Renault George is out here matching Lewis Hamilton also over 1 lap I reckon George could go toe to toe with 1 lap

[@justinwalker823]

@@ShakAKA12Didn’t know finishing five spots ahead in the standings, winning the quali battle by 7, winning the race battle by 5, and having three more retirements is getting “matched” but alright.

[@yhelloh]

@@justinwalker823 as a lifelong fan of Danny Ric... with a signed picture on my wall... George clears Daniel. George is WDC material Danny never was. He never wanted it enough. He didn't have the mental strength on and OFF the grid. Easier to make big money than make a legacy that will never be forgotten by millions. Forever a late braker but never a championship winner.

[@zacktan1403]

George's career is very dependent on every circumstance except for himself. I believe he can win a WDC but it depends on a couple of things: - Kimi's first and second years - Whether if Max wants to stay in Red Bull or even the sport as a whole - If Lando develops the mental required for a title fight or Oscar becomes more polished as a driver - The car

[@LSB001]

Antonelli is going to get Vandoorne'd by Russell. Hamilton got absolutely shown up by Russell last year. What do you think is going to happen to a rookie who hasn't won anything worth a damn?

[@zacktan1403]

@ not winning in junior series doesn’t translate to bad driver. Stroll had a very impressive junior resume but we all know he shouldn’t be in the Aston Martin today. the fact that Toto and Mercedes put Kimi in F2 skipping F3 shows that he’s got serious talent and massive potential. i don’t think Kimi is gonna beat George first year or even come close, but if he does well enough to keep up Mercedes would throw everything to make sure he’s the future

[@getnaenaed4222]

​@@LSB001the vandoorne analogy is unfortunately a really good one

[@Wrong_Hand_Drive]

@@zacktan1403Stroll’s junior resume is way less impressive when you understand the context. They had a developmental car at the Williams factory in F3, and he was DQ’d for having non-spec parts on his car. Also, they used team orders so often to try and force wins because the other driver knew Daddy Stroll was his boss so he’d better fall in line. Lance still didn’t win half the races that year.

[@broyout3586]

You missed one: - whether he manages to piss off Max enough that Max waltzes into the Mercedes garage, sings a contract with Toto on the explicit condition that George is never to be in a F1 seat again. Then it is bye bye George.

[@blauekits7782]

3 Championship battles I think must happen in this era of the grid: Max Verstappen v. Charles Leclerc(2022 teaser) Max Verstappen v. Fernando Alonso(The last of the Old Guard) Max Verstappen v. George Russell(FiA's nightmare scenario)

[@Kuromori-v9z]

2023 SHOULD have been Max vs Fernando if only Aston Martin hadn't fumbled the upgrades as badly as they did.

[@lancealvarez1009]

@@Kuromori-v9z More like if red bull didn't build a insane rocket ship

[@blauekits7782]

@@Kuromori-v9z or if ALO was still in a McLaren as long as HAM was in a Mercedes...

[@patepulkkinenvtec2403]

​@@blauekits7782Can't fault Fernando for leaving McLaren for good though. He was given a shitbox after shitbox year after year.

[@Kuromori-v9z]

@@blauekits7782 Alonso in the 2024 McLaren would've been dreamland.

[@selder_7]

Joined Williams right as they absolutely plummeted, gets beaten by Kubica because of one shock result, would’ve won Sakhir when he was the sub but got it snatched away TWICE, doesn’t score until year 3 stuck at Williams at the back (including missing out by coming together with the guy in the seat he wants as he was floundering), finally gets into the Merc right as their dominance (the biggest in the sports history) ends, alongside a Hamilton who’s fired up by the absolute robbery of his 8th title by Masi instead of a Hamilton who’d have just retired otherwise, beats Hamilton overall but in a way that gets hand-waved away a lot, now leads Merc but will be alongside a junior who’s achieved FAR less than he has but is getting to jump straight in at Merc, has the threat of being kicked out if Verstappen wants to join Merc since Verstappen has been in the right place. I’d be absolutely livid, it’s gone SO wrong for Russell, he’d have expected to be a multi champion by now (and not unreasonably). I worry for him and Leclerc and Norris that Verstappen will just win all the titles until the Antonelli/Bearman generation properly gets going (or it might skip them too). They’re good enough to win titles, they just can’t close the experience gap that Verstappen has on them

[@mikieedwards28]

A little overconfident that merc will excel the next couple areo changes aswell. I have confidence in their powertrains but McLaren, Williams, and alpine will have them. This won’t be 2014 again. And back then they sold the older engines. Now they have to be current spec

[@RandomGuy37]

That's assuming if Verstappen will even be in F1 after 2025

[@Quick_silver007]

I like George. He's rather unlucky. I hope he gets a car that show cases his skill like Lewis, Max and Vettel did.

[@kristoffer3000]

how can anyone like George, he's the fakest little snake on the planet

[@yashahluwalia4522]

1:58 How dare you say the goat Nicholas Latifi is horrible.

[@96wtfomg]

Here's the thing. You could do everything right and still not get a shot at competing for a Driver's Championship. Not even a Championship, look at Hulkenberg. Everyone recognizes him as a good consistent driver, but never got the chance to prove himself at the front despite this. George is a better driver than Nico, but that is just to say that this shit could happen.

[@maxdavis7722]

Hulkenburg hasn’t done great against some teamsters tho. He was pretty even against Pérez, sure it was prime Pérez but neither of those drivers are really top tier and they proved it against each other.

[@skMepo]

@maxdavis7722 I feel like hulk is top tier, or should be imo since you say prime perez, and the one perez we have had is dogwater and was able to sometimes beat max So imagine prime perez agaisnt max, hell even Hulk, hulk would be able to compete agaisnt max fairly often well, we will never know sadly

[@LathropLdST]

​@maxdavis7722will commit this to memory, fam

[@MikoyanGurevichMiG21]

@@skMepo Jean Alesi and Stirling Moss are other great examples too.

[@mladenbanovic3902]

Great video! And I’m really glad that people are starting to appreciate Russell a bit more. I think he is going to stay with Mercedes for few more years. Yes, Toto is interested in Max but I don’t think he will be replacing George and that he is gonna get an extension pretty early. Max also won’t be leaving Red Bull anytime soon- he just isn’t that type of the guy. Fun fact: Toto isn’t known for giving long contracts to his drivers Lewis was on 3 year deals twice (first two contracts 2013-2015-2018) then on two year (till 2020), then 1 year and two year was his last one.

[@Drakewyrm]

Russell is, at best, the fourth best driver on the grid. It doesn't matter where he will go. He will always be frustrated and will never have a shot at becoming WC.

[@gapri_sun1987]

I disagree I think he has the potential given the correct circumstances, this year when he's had a shot at a win he's shown his mettle, Spain turn one also is a highlight

[@ismail9134]

Lando had a chance and he is easily behind George. So George will definitely get a chance.

[@NicotineRosberg]

All it takes is 1 perfect regulation execution. If he has a competitive car he definitely will put up a better title fight than Lando but Max is still superior.

[@gast128]

If he is in a dominant car like the Mercedes era any good driver can be champion. Bottas would have been if Lewis wasn't around.

[@lilbackpain1924]

Abysmal take when russell has had an inconsistent shitbox since he started his f1 career

[@KaunHeBeTu]

Is George actually the next Riccardo? - In the junior wing of the most dominant team - Missed out getting promoted during dominance because of team's "loyalty" to the "number 2" driver. - Joined just when dominance finished, up against the multiple WDC, and beat him. - Team, while not even improving, already has eyes on the next "prodigy" under 18 who didn't even win (or drive) F2.

[@Forest2TS]

he's the Ricciardo, but he wants to be Schumacher

[@KaunHeBeTu]

@@Forest2TS Question is who doesn't want to be Schumacher

[@Forest2TS]

@@KaunHeBeTu well, Lando Norris

[@chasehicks6520]

love seeing my 2 least favorite drivers getting compared to each other.

[@andytidbury8334]

I feel sorry for George, I could feel by the time he got to Mercedes that they would lose competitiveness, the Ricciardo effect. But I do feel he is underestimated. He would have done better against Max than Lando did I think.

[@VIRALforYOU2]

Yeah we seen that in Qatar..

[@randomchicken0490]

​@VIRALforYOU2 cherry picking... we have also seen races were russell has gotten max instead. You can't just look at one race.

[@insanefat6831]

Russell Just needs the car simple as that he's shown he's capable of winning whenever the car is good

[@margaretbehler4935]

As can most drivers.

[@jakubjurkiewicz9945]

He need best car* by a mile. Maybe when we kick Lec, Nor, Ham Ver HaM ALO, and few others out of F1 he will have a chance to win in a non-dominant car.

[@MCFoultier]

The guy beat hamilton in 2 of his 3 seasons. Objectively, he can claim to be a great driver by this feat alone, and normal people without an insane conspiracy mind would agree. He's a multiple race winner, is driving for a great Team, and probably gets 10m per year. At age 24 or so. Dont see too many reasons to be frustrated

[@saqib7965]

Lewis was on experimental set up on two of those seasons but he's still a good driver

[@E23789]

I would have expected a changing of the guard to happen. Usually the young ones come into the sport/team and destroy the older ones but that didn't really happen

[@emiliovillacorta4276]

Recently there hasn't been as an unlucky of a driver as George. He showcased his great potential the one time he got to drive a Championship caliber car in Sakhir 2020. He should be talked in conversations as Charles equal, yet he hasn't had the chance of driving a competent car yet. I would have loved for Mercedes to promote him in 2021. Simply unlucky...

[@karatekid951]

Such is George Russell's luck. Should be a movie.

[@justinwalpole8956]

He was very lucky in 2022 compared to hamilton

[@heijzl]

@@justinwalpole8956 russell is objectively not lucky, and i think it's disingenuous to bring up the 2022 season when that was an extremely difficult season for the pair of them

[@justinwalpole8956]

@heijzl he was definitely very lucky in 2022.

[@sethmeaseles3301]

Russell has lost a total of 70 points due to reliability and his dsq. His bad luck is absolutely crazy at times. He's not 100% always ahead of Hamilton, but he's ahead of him by just enough enough of the time to come out on top in 2 separate seasons. That's an astonshing feat. He's always had talent. I really wish Merc stops the decline and the 2025 car can fight for the championship and Russell proves that he deserves to stay at Mercedes. He waited in a Williams for 3 years and joined during Mercedes worst years since they first joined in the 2010-2013 seasons. He's proven that he's dedicated and loyal to the team. It would be an absolute disgrace if Toto does decide to drop George all because Toto is still trying to chase Max after he lost that chance almost a decade ago.

[@HarderBetter]

Clearly George proven to not be a WDC material. He can barely put up a fight against Lewis at the twilight of his career. WDC material like Max would demolish Lewis in the same car given the different stages of their careers. Often good results for Russel are caused by quirky, risky strategies which is great for a mid-tier team to score more podiums but it's no strategy for champrionship battle. The only reason Toto is still looking out for the next Lewis is because he still hasn't found one, if he did he'd fill the second seat with Sainz or Albon or someone else - there is no shortage of #2.

[@paw565]

I don't see a future where max joins Mercedes.

[@jordanw24]

George is the annoying teacher’s pet that won’t shutup and thinks he’s better than everyone else. No one cares about him (including Toto).

[@marty197666]

I could see a Damon Hill type situation where George actually wins the wdc, but gets booted in favour of Max…. He ends up in Audi or Alpine maybe winning one race and retires. Hope not

[@MariNchello76]

if merc gets verstappen, rb will get russel 99% and maybe thats a blessing in disguise for him

[@patepulkkinenvtec2403]

Yes, that's why George probably doesn't need to sweat that much

[@HabitualLine-Stepper]

@MariNchello76 Red Bull would not sign Russell...

[@MariNchello76]

@@HabitualLine-Stepper they considered him as an option this year when the verstappen rumours started

[@timovoigtTV11]

2:10 shakir 2020 just prooved that fokin everyone would ve been WDC in Mercedes 😂

[@michaelfierman3256]

Really interesting episode Aldas, happy new year!

[@footballandf1fan523]

Russell is in a very vulnerable position because there’s almost nothing he can do to save his seat if Verstappen becomes available as Toto will always choose Verstappen and Antonelli over him. His priority has always been Mercedes but I don’t think that’s reciprocated anymore and he definitely needs to be looking at other options for 2026 so he can have something decent lined up if Mercedes decide not to extend his contract, he’s way too good to be at the back of the grid, needs to make sure he doesn’t find himself in a similar situation to Sainz.

[@oscarcallejas-arq]

Why would they keep Antonelli over Russell? He hasn’t even started racing in F1 and people are already putting him ahead of George or even calling him a wdc. He’s had two fp1 so far, in one he crashed out early in the session and in the other one he was miles off George

[@LSB001]

@@oscarcallejas-arq They'd keep Antonelli because he's not a threat to Verstappen. Russell would be. Verstappen has made absolutely no secret of the fact that he doesn't want competition, especially in the same team.

[@footballandf1fan523]

@ Mercedes have put a lot of time and faith in Antonelli and I don’t see them getting rid after 1 season unless he’s absolutely disastrous. I also don’t think there’s any chance that Verstappen and Russell would be teammates, I don’t think Toto would want to do that as he’s been here before and would definitely not want a repeat, also don’t think Verstappen joins Mercedes if Russell is in the other car, if he goes there then it will in place of Russell unfortunately, even though he absolutely does not deserve to get dropped and is more than good enough to lead Mercedes.

[@oscarcallejas-arq]

@@footballandf1fan523 fair enough, I think a guy from Mercedes said that basically next year would be a fight between George and Kimi for the seat if Max is available. I think Max would want to wait how 2026 unfolds and who has the best car and then he will join that team, I personally see him staying at Red Bull at least until the end of 2026

[@alessandro88-g9h]

@@LSB001Russell a threat to Verstappen? Please don’t be ridiculous, Max would easily destroy Woodie in equal machinery

[@tylerensminger]

Mercedes will need to turn it around. Otherwise George will need to look elsewhere. I think he's one of the top 5 or 6 drivers on the grid. Needs the right situation

[@AnarRamazanov-po5le]

The truth is, in F1, you as a driver HAVE TO PERFORM ALL THE TIME. Because most F1 fans only look at the most recent races/results and judge a driver based on these races/results. F1 is NOT just a sport, it is a huge business. As we saw in 2024, no matter how good you are (in this case Sainz), if someone who's shown that they can win or perform at the highest level when the stars align and has more fame and more prestige is available (Hamilton in that case), you'll be shown the door anyway. And I think this will happen to George unless he wins the title (ot at least is able to challenge for it) or Antonelli turns out to be Sargeant 2.0

[@ricardzubimendifelip9039]

Very nice video. I think Vettel is the perfect example of being at the right place at the right time and up against a very beatable teammate.

[@samaravadi3]

Im a big Russell Fan, got a model car of him in the W14 and got stickers of his logo. Hate how he was shafted by the world.

[@Vislow]

The poor millionaire isn't liked by some F1 fans on social media. Truly tragic.

[@mrx5232]

@@Vislow all thanks to himself

[@hansvanbrandwijk2803]

When people start to pitty you, you are a looser.

[@Rindiculousfun]

A Max George title championship battle would be peak F1

[@philiptownsend4026]

No chance of that happening for many reasons.

[@Rindiculousfun]

Sure but still would be peak

[@jakubjurkiewicz9945]

@@Rindiculousfun This will be the peak of hatred and lies from the toxic British media for sure. Will it be a sporting feast? I don't think so.

[@diggypenguin2952]

Russell can fight for a championship at least in the first part of the season

[@ImmaBeBored]

damn Russell has some serious jaundice in that thumbnail

[@LathropLdST]

Alonso's decisions have all been Briatore suggestions 😂😂😂😂

[@philiptownsend4026]

And never good ones.

[@tstret3104]

I reckon he will end up being as successful as someone like Button. I see a championship, not multiple, and a fair few decent wins along the way etc, but never someone who’s going to have a large period of dominance. I’m basing this purely off vibes alone so take that as you will 🤣

[@F1jones]

Button was the exact opposite type of driver. He wasn't a good qualifier but he was incredibly consistent in races. Russell's proven to be an outstanding qualifier who consistently falls off in races.

[@tstret3104]

⁠@@F1joneslike I said it’s just vibes 😅 I just think when it’s all said and done he will end up with a trophy cabinet similar to Jenson’s.

[@VirkStar321]

@@F1jonesI don’t think he fails in races I think it’s way more on strategy and tbh I think it’s lazy to say he has bad race pace, George has made atupid strategies somehow work and also his racing iq is incredible. Making decisions that would win him races, while not even being a strategist. Abu Dhabi I don’t believe is an example of it because an alternate strategy that Lewis has, has the intention of being everything to gain and nothing to lose.

[@tstret3104]

@VirkStar321 People are also easily forgetting that he’s only had a semi-competitive car for 3 seasons and has only been driving since 2019 😂

[@Carlos-ln8fd]

So excited to see him next season

[@HolyGuacamolean]

That Williams was way more capable than what Latifi and George Russell were able to extract. That was a race winning car.

[@Uzair_Of_Babylon465]

Great video keep it up you're doing amazing things 😁👍

[@sumitblogs15]

The great thing for George is that he is not going to get bullied like Lando was bullied by max in 2024..and it will be fun in a title battle..

[@VIRALforYOU2]

But the problem Russel does is making max angry. That’s the last person you should make angry on the track 😂

[@charliegath6125]

Sure, then he'll meet the wall a few more times than Lando did.

[@Account527-pl]

I laugh when I see people saying he will or won’t be a WDC when it’s completely dependent on circumstance that we don’t know yet. If I had to predict I would say George won’t win a title but it’s nothing more than a hunch. We expect max to keep winning but redbull might be a midfield car next season we just don’t know

[@philiptownsend4026]

I believe that's all very true. I just can't see GR as WC.

[@driver8703]

If Toto does pursue Max, I wish him ever single headache that decision will bring him

[@philiptownsend4026]

Absolutely. MV is very fast and a well proven champion but he does bring an awful lot of baggage, a real pain to manage.

[@driver8703]

@@philiptownsend4026he’s a well proven champion in a Newey car, as was Vettel and we see how that went after he stepped out of it. Also some questionable things by the team. Max himself is a problem, very quick to throw the team under the bus and needs to be coddled like Horner does him. And that’s not even getting to the fact he’s one of the most dirty drivers to ever get behind a wheel, totally incapable of racing cleanly in wheel to wheel situations.

[@ViliusZavistauskas]

Imagine in one of the parallel universes Max and George having to cooperate under mercedes team :Dd

[@stonedage5087]

When he steped up in Bahrein to substitute Lewis, it was pretty clear to me that he was world Champion material. No doubt about it. First Race with the team, best car, under massive pressure to perform, he was flawless. I assume that with more time with that car during that season, he would obliterate bottas and become a world Champion in his first season with the team. His time with Merc has been massively underrated but hasn't let himself or the team down. With stability and a fast car, Russell Will be there for sure.

[@F1jones]

Mika Salo did the same thing subbing for Schumacher in 1999, and Jarier did as well in Canada 1978. No one ever said they were championship material for leading a race with LESS pressure than one has during an entire championship campaign.

[@robertcarr4172]

Agree

[@Cos_Why_Not]

​@@F1jones Salo was nowhere near as good as Russell was. Salo was consistently worse than Irvine, while Russell in the first and only race he had for Mercedes in the season qualified right behind Bottas, passed him on the first lap, and would likely have won without the pit errors by the team.

[@philiptownsend4026]

Georgie needs a fast car, Georgie needs it now...

[@Big-Preparation]

Crazy that Russell was never the fastest driver on track for any of his race wins

[@superstar_h_gamer5211]

WTF are you talking about. He won brazil and the sprint with the fastest lap in both.

[@gabrieljr5410]

@@superstar_h_gamer5211 If Lewis didnt get verstappened in the race he wouldve likely won without the damage and lost ground from the collision as he was able to keep within 1 second of george, even with damage.

[@Big-Preparation]

@ he finished less than 2 seconds in front of Hamilton. Verstappen literally tried to crash Hamilton out of the race, so he lost time due to the crash and the damaged car. Use your brain

[@zac_games7374]

He literally dominated Vegas

[@LSB001]

@gabrieljr5410 Lewis spent a large portion of that race trying and failing to get into DRS range of Russell. TeamLH are truly delusional.

[@paullavallee1631]

George is poised to challenge for the world championship in 2025

[@philiptownsend4026]

I just can't see it. The necessary mental strength isn't there.

[@paullavallee1631]

@@philiptownsend4026 lol, like you know

[@Shea-austin]

@@philiptownsend4026 Well maybe not you but other F1 fans had a different opinion and said the same thing about Max before his title run..

[@bl4xxun]

I think in some ways George was incredibly lucky. Had Lewis really won his 8th championship in 21 and retired, the downfall of Mercedes in the ground effect era would have been attributed to George rather than the team. But with Lewis staying as a benchmark, we know when George got the most out of the car and when he didn’t.

[@gast128]

Good driver and capable of winning a WDC if the car is dominant. Not sure about his mental resilience though he wasn't afraid of ramming Max or any other driver.

[@VirkStar321]

I think he’s the only new era driver to have that mental resilience out of any of them

[@russtaylor385]

No package - No delivery has always ruled and with 24 races that is even more true. Verstappen may win next year again if Red Bull continue to have a great car. If not then Charles, George and Lando/Oscar have a chance. Who knows for 26/27? Personally I want Charles to have a championship- but it isn’t a given for any of them. Can’t wait for it all to start again.

[@abdielgonzales8467]

You know what would be extremely funny? that by 2026 Max agrees to go to Mercedes, they kick George out, and he gets hired by Redbull, and then in the 2026 season Mercedes fails again and Redbull gives a competitive car to Russell

[@nilanjanghosh8174]

Redbull in 2016 was on a upwards trajectory??? I meanwhat are you smoking man !!!! They went from being 4 time double world champion to Scraping for podiums and wins by 2016

[@RandomGuy37]

Considering how terrible their 2015 season was, in 2016 they were definitely on an upwards trajectory

[@ingydegmar2060]

They may have been, bit that trajectory flatlined until 2021. And even then it was because of the floor rule change affecting Merc worse. And the illegal Ferrari engine being taken out.

[@y_fam_goeglyd]

Ironically, he got the first win compared to Albon & Norris... If the car is good enough, he'll be good enough. He's had to overdrive the various cars he's had because they've not been good consistently. I hope he gets the chance to show how good he really is.

[@Vislow]

Overdrive = crash?

[@philiptownsend4026]

The best cars, teams, drivers, managers and engineers magnetically attract each other. I don't see GR joining one of those circles... He thought he had but it didn't work out and Merc are at a low point in their cycle now.

[@iankaranja7765]

Russel career has been settling him up to be the most hungry driver in the top teams. If he gets even half a sniff at a championship, he will grab it decisively.

[@philiptownsend4026]

I don't think he has the mental toughness.

[@SlightlyMisunderstood]

Personally I think George is a much more capable driver than Norris. When he gets a consistently competitive car, he will do well!

[@PaulA09631]

It feels like Russell is the “middle child” of Mercedes in the sense that he’s always overlooked no matter the issues he faces. Because the attention goes towards the proven talent(Hamilton, Verstappen) or the potential (Kimi) while his career is derailed by the future potential of the team.

[@alphaperez]

idk if George can win a wdc for merc but GEORGE BEAT LEWIS CONVINCINGLY in 2024, and its kind of hilarious watching the brits and the teamLT refusing to rate Russell. 2024 was an awakening for George...re-watch the final laps in Montreal, in the wet, george overtook sir lewis himself on the last chicane to steal a podium finish. It was an aggressive, assertive overtake on a 7x wdc team mate. It's a sign of maturity, where George is done asking for permission, and instead is taking what he deserves. George deserves to lead a top team in F1 and yes he should easily beat Kimi in 2025.

[@rigobertoaguilar3636]

Russell most reminds me of Nigel Mansell, even moreso than Ricciardo. Difference between Ricciardo and Russell is that we've seen he's capable of adapting to different ranges of cars very quickly, as opposed to Danny who took time to adapt, if at all. We saw Mansell be great at a plentitude of teams/cars before finally getting a lucky break and finally winning a title.

[@rulifaller8474]

Max spent just as many years in a non title winning car as George. Red Bull were obviously better than Williams, but not better than Merc in recent years.

[@Sam_bcafc]

I see him having a very similar career to Ricciardo

[@charlieknight4521]

‘Toto would definitely drop George for Max’ lmao no he wouldn’t. Reminds me of when everyone said Ferrari would drop Sainz for Mick Schumacher 😂

[@patepulkkinenvtec2403]

So Max and Mick are compareable? Ok 😂

[@EntropicExergy]

Yes he would, not that Max is interested in a team that has no clue how aero works and can only win when they get to cheat with the engine regs.

[@EntropicExergy]

Princess george did not stand any ground against Max. The whiny little dramaqueen spread BS and lies and stole Max' pole. If the whiner so much as tries anything like that again, Max will utterly destroy georgieboy in the blink of an eye.

[@Virtus_Aurelius]

I don't believe Toto is looking for Max anymore He will spend his energy into Antonelli

[@SebTheEdge1]

All merc really needs to do is get George and kimi in one of their older cars which where more dominant and tell em get the best lap time possible. Georgie should have an advantage as he likely drove in the era that car existed just he wasn’t driving it and he drove in f1 for years. Doing this will be able to give Mercedes clues on how much further ahead is George, I really doubt kimi will be faster than George right away but in the future possibly

[@tataklata4380]

Everyone knows that Russell was plain ass obliterated by the almighty One-Hand-Hero Bobby K. at Williams.

[@jaquandrejones]

5:53 when were they EVER the best 2 drivers on the same team? Charles and sainz. Next.

[@yilongmask]

Please remember he was never a world champion, only a 4 time race winner

[@TheGarfield1337]

There is no was George will ever be WDC unlese Mercedes puts am absolutely unbeatable rocketship under his arse

[@Top_gear2021]

I undersand people hate George for his very PR and two faced attitudes but just because someone is a dick, it doesnt mean they are a bad driver, George is one the best on the grid, he got the Mercedes seat for a reason, he won F2 and F3 back to back, and has shown in Brazil 22, Vegas 24, that on his day, he can be the best in the world and thats a quailty that only world champion calibre drivers have. Yes, he's annoying two-faced, teachers' pet, but that doesn't make him a bad driver.

[@patepulkkinenvtec2403]

George is a great driver, and I actually accept it if a great driver is a bit of dick sometimes. You occasionally need to be to succeed. However, what bothers me is that unlike Max and Fernando for example, George pretends to be the nice guy but actually isn't. It's more likable to just embrace the 'dickness' in you rather than forcefully try to hide it, and ultimately failing at it.

[@EntropicExergy]

Nowhere near Max' level, Max destroys him.

[@philiptownsend4026]

Best on the day isn't enough, needs to be best on at least 90% of days to be WC - look back on, say, the last ten or fifteen years, the champions have all been consistent.

[@AndyFromBeaverton]

I'm looking forward to seeing George finish the championship above Lewis.

[@thebbiddim882]

Lewis was the best driver of the previous generation that's why Toto and Niki pushed to get him from McLaren. It's clear Max is the best driver of this current generation. He wants the best driver in his car, and he has the money to make it happen. The problem is the best drivers want to drive the best cars, that's partly why Lewis is leaving, and why Max won't even look in the Merc's direction.

[@jakubjurkiewicz9945]

It's frustrating that we have such drivers on the grid. An overrated driver and a truly toxic man with amoeba morality.

[@achimsinn6189]

Kimi Antonelli might be in an even more difficult spot. He is on the team as the clear no 2 driver and will have the job of supporting Gearge. At the same time he needs to show that he is capable of bringing in results for himself and that all in a car that we don't know whether or not it will be competetive. On top of that when they are getting Max he will be locked down on no 2 position indefinitly or better said untill either he or Max leaves the team, which again means he needs to have good results to even get a chance as a number 1 driver in a top team in the future.

[@Chad.Pilling]

He’s full of excuses and random wins !

[@carlosvalero7638]

singapore 2023 describes him as a driver.

[@jakubjurkiewicz9945]

Or 2024 Australian GP.

[@gunshipzeroone3546]

I do think Russell is a great driver maybe not the best right now Hamilton and max are probably the best right now but I do think in time Russell will be w.c around 2029 with more experience under his belt...

[@philiptownsend4026]

He already has six years experience?

[@Focuspls-xk8sj]

Hamilton really? did we watch the same season

[@ilikeexxs]

The mentality angle feels a bit disingenuous to me. It's easy to stand up and not be mentally fatigued by verstappen when he's never really fighting him. Lando is fighting wheel to wheel with the man most of the season for what is ultimately podium places while Russell is realistically fighting for 5th at best.

[@CharlieJudson-ox7cg]

In my eyes I wouldn’t mind if Mercedes did swap George for Max. They would definitely have 2 drivers capable of winning championships. As for Red Bull, if Max were to leave, promote Isack Hadjar to Red Bulland bring Arvid Lindblad into Racing Bulls, that way they can still focus on developing their own young drivers

[@tylerensminger]

Let's see how Hadjar (and Liam) gets on first.

[@Crotes1990]

Russell is anything but humble so I really dislike him. Seeing him at the wrong places all the time is pretty funny to watch tbh.

[@User_43209]

Carlos Sainz might just have a better chance at the title

[@jackishy1261]

Toto the boy who cried wolf

[@henkormel5610]

Mercedes not knowing why their car is fast sometimes is regarded to me a way to blind the competition. Mercedes wasn't able to correct the flaws witch are by logic are situated in the chassis and suspension layout. Let's see what they come-up with in '25. George is likely to have a career like Carlos Sainz. He is regarded to be the top nr. two driver. I don't know why due to George beating Lewis twice in their three seasons together. Antonelli being hyped up as the new Verstappen but binning the car in his first Mercedes FP1 in the second flying lap is not promising. Verstappen made his FP1 debut in Japan 2014, in the same weekend Jules Bianchi crashed with lethal consequences. Verstappen was quicker than the sitting drivers and kept the car on track.

[@Jesus_H._Tap-DancingChrist]

"Hamilton and Russell are arguably the best driver line-up." - Some Lunatic

[@LSB001]

Name a better one. The only one that comes close is Leclerc and Sainz. We'll have to see how well Hamilton matches against Leclerc next year.

[@juliatomaszewska2803]

Lol which line-up do you think is better then?

[@HPG_the_first]

Verstappen was the best Driver line-up in 2022 and especially 23. He was Just too good, even without a Partner.

[@ShandonCihon]

I just don’t think he is as good as many people think he is.

[@tennis-man22]

I still feel like Hamilton has a Nadal 2022 season in him. Legends know what I mean 😉 Nadal GOAT

[@mikasr.5]

Copium

[@BrashThugs989]

@@mikasr.5 How is it copium?...

[@JCDenton95]

🤣🤣🤣 idiotic

[@F1jones]

I think he was at the perfect place at the perfect time. He's a second rate A tier driver who's just had a boost against a past-his-peak Hamilton. Given his objective level of driving in races after six seasons, nothing else could have raised his level of reputation more.

[@kristoffer3000]

Came here to leave a very similar comment, George isn't that good, his mental is atrocious, his racecraft is straight up bad, he's an incessant whiner etc etc. He doesn't even belong in the Merc seat.

[@ZIRA_Mateking56]

George is definetly a WC material driver In my eyes. A "past-his-peak" Hamilton is kinda an exaggeration, His experience and 7WC s is actually giving him a boost, so this coin kinda has two sides. I admit that sometimes George has a fierce attitude towards Max and the other top team drivers, but as a package, George Is Top 4 On the grid right now

[@ikedi6005]

​@@kristoffer3000 Ridiculous statement this.

[@VirkStar321]

@@kristoffer3000defo a salty max or Lewis fan here Guys done pretty much everything right in his career and still getting told he doesn’t deserve his seat… 😂

[@kristoffer3000]

@@ikedi6005 Not really?

[@PeterPost-w8m]

Nobody likes George Russell.

[@davey2487]

If Verstappen goes to Mercedes in the next couple years, I can see Red Bull giving his seat to Russell.

[@philiptownsend4026]

That seems logical but Helmet Marco would stop it for whatever his own reasons may be. Why is he so influential?

[@Pratik454-j]

U are comparing lewis stats with russel , seriously Lewis is 7 time WC , still u are saying that margin are slim have u lost your mind

[@HarvyRecinos]

In the eight time George has the capability of becoming wc. When Mercedes get it right oh boy they get it right

[@johnlau6749]

if George quickly recall what Lewis taught him what it takes to be number 1 at mercedes, George at least okay otherwise he screwed

[@ln9895]

I wouldn’t say frustrating. For the level of driver he is he has had a good career so far. He isn’t on the level of a max or a prime Lewis, or a leclerc, alonso, and so on. Maybe one year he will get a wdc if a good opportunity arises, like when rosberg or button won it

[@philiptownsend4026]

Rosberg nearly destroyed himself to win that one championship. While I like JB a lot he struck very lucky with a technical innovation to win his championship despite very difficult circumstances. It was the quality of Ross Brawn's management that facilitated it.

[@MicahStardler]

Gasly is better than Russell

[@munaclassic4020]

Hot take George Russell is a slightly more reliable pastor Maldonado. Russell has had slightly more of everything from current career length to amount of both high stakes crash’s and total amount of crashes. The only thing is Maldonado didn’t have the backing that Russell does( horrible Renault bs dominant Mercedes) as with proper guidance Maldonado could have been fighting for titles, or at least a second driver for a top half of the grid team.

[@YuriRamzian]

Aston Martin on the corner

[@aurionblackfyre8480]

Can you talk about Cadillac andretti please for once

[@alexandroschatzinikolaou272]

Haha great video, very useful insights I watched it all

[@NicotineRosberg]

Generic comment. You must be a bot

[@jaquandrejones]

The first hurdle daddy's money can't move, he can't get past. Sucks.

[@ogTryhard21]

George has shown what he can do tome after time after time, and nobody seems to even care. All those heroic drives to Q3 and scoring points for Williams, all the times where George has squeezed his Mercedes into places it didnt belong, the fantastic pole positions and wins, and not an ounce of recognition. Belgium 2020, Sakhir 2020, Austria 2021, Silverstone 2021, Belgium 2021, Hungary 22, Brazil 22, Bahrain 24, Austria 24, Vegas 24, and more, all outstanding performances. He has been voted Driver of the Day ONCE in his entire career.

[@Swarmah]

well, about hamilton, we will first time see his real skill. Because ferrari has always been championship winning car, it was just either team strategy or drivers. Just look at any driver that joined ferrari ( mostly top 5 drivers most of time top 2/3 ), and people leaving ferrari for bottom teams ( going dead last ). Mercedess was far more dominant than red bull ever was, i mean in supperiority to other cars. Nowdays mercedess was equal to other cars, and if russel cant win verstappen, lecrerc, sainz, hamilton in equal cars, hes not championship material, unless he will get a car like hamilton did. (McLaren are out of question this season, they had the car that had to have 1-2 in drivers championships pat didnt end up doing it )

[@guybunchofnumbers123]

Max to Merc, Piastri to RB, Russell to Mclaren

[@LSB001]

Norris would never accept Russell coming to McLaren. He'd get exposed so hard. Russell dominated him in F2.

[@patepulkkinenvtec2403]

​@@LSB001As if one season multiple years ago in a different category would be an accurate indication of their performance levels at the moment...

[@Vislow]

​@@LSB001Imagine if teams made decisions like that based on 7 year old results.

[@EntropicExergy]

Max isn't going to a team that doesn't understand aero and can only win when they get to cheat with the engine regs.

[@philiptownsend4026]

RB are starting a long downward slide while the only way is up for MB.