George Russell needs to go 'head-to-head' with Max Verstappen in 2026 F1 title combat

George Russell has stated that he’s able to combat for the F1 drivers’ championship in 2026 and he needs to go head-to-head with Max Verstappen specifically.

Mercedes have more and more appeared like they often is the crew to beat this yr following a really profitable preliminary testing session in Barcelona final week.

The Silver Arrows racked up essentially the most mileage in comparison with their rivals – finishing a formidable 502 complete laps of operating throughout the 5 day check.

Nonetheless Russell has additionally moved to mood expectations insisting that it’s too early to inform if Mercedes have produced a bundle this yr able to combating for the championship.

Regardless of this, the 5-time Grand Prix winner underpinned his feedback insisting that he’s very a lot prepared for the title combat himself and he needs to face Max Verstappen.

Talking to media throughout Mercedes’ official 2026 launch occasion Russell stated: “I really feel able to combat for a World Championship, and whether or not we now have that remark above us or not, that doesn’t change my method one single bit.”

“I do wish to go head-to-head with Max and clearly Lando had an amazing season final yr.”

“I believe in all probability the followers and other people had been anticipating, you recognize, to probably be Mercedes versus McLaren as a result of there was a number of anticipation that Mercedes would clearly have the perfect energy unit.”

“But it surely looks as if the opposite energy unit producers have finished an excellent job and we all know that Purple Bull have at all times had an incredible automobile, even by means of the years of dominance of Mercedes. It was their engine that was letting them down, not their automobile.” 

‘Too early to say’

The British driver, who will probably be getting into his sixth season with Mercedes this yr, signalled on Monday that there have been early constructive indicators with the bundle but in addition stated that quite a lot of producers this yr look promising.

“Properly, clearly, we’ve solely pushed the automobile for 3 days,” he stated.

“However, quoting Toto [Wolff], it doesn’t appear to be a turd, which is a bonus. And, to be trustworthy, within the early days like this, you recognize when it could possibly be a extremely unhealthy automobile, and you may kind of spotlight these negatives early on.

“We don’t imagine it’s. However is it a automobile to provide a world championship? It’s method too early to say.”

He added: “There was some speak concerning the Purple Bull energy unit not being as much as normal yr one.

“From what we’ve seen to date, they’ve undoubtedly delivered. Ferrari energy unit appears to be like dependable.

“They did a lot of laps over the course of the check. Haas did a number of laps as effectively with the Ferrari engine.

“The reality is, there could possibly be an excellent combat on our fingers, however we’re glad with what we now have to date.”