George Russell has expressed astonishment at how he and Max Verstappen remain in contention with McLaren’s Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris.
Mercedes’ Russell and Red Bull’s Verstappen are trailing McLaren’s duo, with Verstappen 43 points behind leader Piastri and Russell 62 points adrift.
Russell narrowed the gap by securing a commanding victory at the Canadian Grand Prix, finishing ahead of Verstappen and rising star Kimi Antonelli.
The championship race tightened after McLaren’s Norris triggered a collision with teammate Piastri at Circuit Gilles Villeneuve, forcing Norris to retire. This marked the first time McLaren’s drivers were entangled in an on-track incident, a moment Russell highlighted as potentially pivotal if he were to clinch the title.
“They’ve got the fastest cars by far,” Russell said in the post-race press conference, glancing at Verstappen. “Max and I have stayed close because we’ve maximized our packages consistently. But McLaren throwing away points like they did in Canada? That’s what’s keeping us in the fight.”
Russell acknowledged McLaren’s superior pace, suggesting their cars are unmatched. However, he added, “If they keep tripping over each other, it opens the door for us. We can’t rely on outpacing them outright—it’ll take more results like Canada.”
Verstappen echoed the sentiment, noting McLaren’s dominance but emphasizing consistency as key. “They’re quick, no question,” he said. “But if they make mistakes, we’re there to capitalize.”
The championship battle resumes at the Austrian Grand Prix, where teams will tackle 71 laps of the 4.318-kilometer Red Bull Ring on Sunday, June 29. Expect McLaren to regroup, but Russell and Verstappen are ready to pounce on any slip-ups.
