Russell identifies key Verstappen advantage over F1 rivals

George Russell has highlighted a critical factor that helped carry Max Verstappen to his fourth-consecutive F1 drivers' championship.

The Mercedes driver pinpointed the Dutchman's ability to maximise his performances and extract the best available result on any given weekend, something he says rival drivers did not do this season.

Although a far cry from the intensity and hostility of the 2021 F1 championship, Verstappen's first, the Red Bull driver has faced his fair share of adversity through the year.

He had to put together an economical campaign, often fighting in lesser machinery to those around him.

However, the depth of competition and mistakes by those chasing him afforded the 62-time grand prix winner the opportunity to manage his points advantage throughout 2024, despite going 10 rounds without a grand prix victory.

When asked for his thoughts on Verstappen's season, Russell described it as "exceptional", before underlining what he feels separates the now four-time F1 drivers' champion to those around him.

"He had a dominant car at the start of the year and he got the wind when he needed to and then genuinely thought he probably wasn't going to win this championship," the 26-year-old told media including RacingNews365.

"He delivered week in, week out, and got the best result the car was capable of and his rivals didn't."

Russell lays down marker

Verstappen leaves the Las Vegas Grand Prix with a 63-point lead over Lando Norris, 10 more than the gap was following the McLaren driver's first victory, at the Miami Grand Prix.

The round in Florida also signalled the end of Red Bull's run of dominance in F1. From that point onwards, the Milton Keynes team had to content with fierce competition from McLaren, Ferrari and Mercedes.

It makes the Dutchman wrapping up the title with two events to spare all the more impressive. It is something Russell did not believe he would be able to achieve.

"I thought it was going to go right to the wire," the three-time grand prix winner said. "He won with three races to go [including the Qatar sprint], so huge congrats to him."

Buoyed by his own success in Sin City, the British driver turned his attention to better fighting Verstappen in 2025.

"We've just got to make sure that we get ourselves in that fight and give him a harder time, because it's about time," he said. "I think we feel ready to try and take that challenge to the front."