George Russell has insisted he did not "grow up dreaming of being on television" as he explained how he coped with the "noise" around his Mercedes contract delay.
The Briton finally put pen to paper on a fresh Mercedes deal ahead of the US Grand Prix, although the renewal had been widely expected after boss Toto Wolff accepted defeat in his chase of Max Verstappen for 2026.
Russell has enjoyed a strong first season as Mercedes team leader in 2025, with eight podiums, including two wins, to sit fourth in the drivers' standings, but faced a barrage of questions from the media throughout the summer and early autumn as the delay in agreeing a fresh contract rumbled on.
Eventually, he and Wolff came to an agreement, with Russell believing he can challenge for the 2026 world championship, given Mercedes are expected to be strong with the radical changes coming to the power units for next term.
Reflecting on how he battled against the "external noise," Russell detailed how he was able to block that out when it was time to go racing.
"I've always been quite good at that when the helmet comes on, any external noise is squashed," Russell told media, including RacingNews365.
"In the past, if I've been in a bad mood or angry or frustrated, whenever the helmet has gone on, it's never really affected me, but there was a lot of noise and speculation going on, but I knew the reality.
"Of course, it was annoying every weekend with the questions, but when I put the helmet on, I'm not thinking about my contract, I'm thinking about driving fast, so that is the lesson as you continue focusing on what we're here to do.
"When I leave the [media briefing], I don't dwell on anything that has been said or asked because I am not here to give the best answers to you guys; I didn't grow up dreaming of being in front of a television.
"I grew up dreaming of being a Formula 1 world champion, and all of this that happens around is just white noise, and you can choose to let that affect you, or choose to let it go in one ear and out the other, and focus on what is important.
"What is important to me is working with my team, being happy on track, trying to make my family and my girlfriend proud of me, and that's how I go about my business, and the rest is always going to be there.
"People want to twist the words or however it may be, but that's just how life works, really, so coming to the reality of having thick skin helps with it."
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