George Russell pinpoints his Mercedes goal for 2025 Formula 1 season. George Russell has outlined his basic approach for the upcoming F1 championship.

New role at Mercedes
As the next World Championship draws closer, teams and drivers are gearing up, and one of them is set for a very different 2025 with Mercedes compared to the past seasons with the Brackley team: George Russell. For the first time, the Briton will not have the seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton as his teammate, as Lewis Hamilton is ready for a new challenge with Ferrari. More importantly, Russell will take on the role of team leader, following the arrival of 18-year-old rookie Andrea Kimi Antonelli.

No break
Although Formula 1 is currently in a break, drivers can’t consider it a real rest period. Some are already on track, participating in TPC tests (those that, by regulation, are done with cars that are at least two years old and have a limit of 1000 km to cover), as is the case with Hamilton, while most are training to increase strength and endurance. Russell is also in the gym, eager to get back behind the wheel soon: “Everyone needs a break in Formula 1, but to be honest, I wanted to get back on track right away,” the Briton explained to the media after returning to Brackley. “There’s still a bit of time until the first race, but it’s great to be back here, seeing how motivated everyone is and how the race car is being built. I started physical training with my coach Aleix on January 2nd. We’ve been at it for about four weeks now. The second week was absolutely brutal, but we’re increasing gradually, because the last thing you want is to get injured by overtraining. Anyway, during the holidays I kept moving because sitting still isn’t for me. For me, sports are more than just physical exercise, they make me feel good and also help with my mental health.”

Work for 2025
This physical preparation aligns with the goals Russell has set for the upcoming season, which are quite similar to those of previous years: “They’re always the same, and my approach hasn’t changed,” he continues. “Formula 1 is so unpredictable that you can’t set specific goals. If I say I want to win four races this year because I won three times last year, I won’t be satisfied. If I know it would be easy to win ten races with the new driver but only win five, I still won’t be satisfied. I tend to pursue goals in detail. Last year, qualifying was my strength, but my race pace wasn’t always the best. I know I have the speed to compete with everyone in a single lap, but there’s no reason I shouldn’t be able to do it over an entire race. I need to work on a few elements to achieve this goal, and there are other goals in mind that I don’t want to reveal yet. The beauty of Formula 1 is that every year you start with a new car, which changes the parameters: what was a strength last year might not be one this year. You always have to adapt, and I enjoy that.”