F1 | Russell: "Verstappen is the only driver you'd want to team up with to test your competitiveness."

If we exclude the top three in the 2025 overall standings, namely Lando Norris, Max Verstappen and Oscar Piastri, who overall played another sport, among the “humans” the best was undoubtedly George Russell.

The Englishman was the protagonist of a great season which, despite a car that was not always competitive, allowed number 63 to obtain two victories by showing high-level performances which led (also thanks to the growth of his young teammate Andrea Kimi Antonelli) to second place in the Constructors' Championship, ahead of Red Bull and Ferrari.

Russell, discussing the recently concluded championship, underlined that he is not afraid of comparing himself with the drivers who preceded him in the standings and that at the same time he would like to compete in the same team as Verstappen to understand his true potential.

“Definitely my strongest in terms of performance: most consistent, with the fewest mistakes,” Russell said, discussing his final season, as quoted by Autosport. “So yeah, overall it was like that.”

Russell, continuing his speech, added: “I know for sure that I can compete with the top drivers. Max (Verstappen, ed.) is obviously the benchmark right now. He's the one I'd like to compete with, and I think he's the only one people would question. He's the only driver on the grid you'd want to be teammates with to test your competitiveness.”