George Russell shared his candid thoughts on Lando Norris’s win at the Australian Grand Prix, the opening race of the 2025 Formula 1 season, emphasizing how challenging it is to manage a race from the front in wet conditions.
Starting from fourth on the grid, George Russell was never truly in contention for the podium against the McLarens and Max Verstappen for most of the race. However, a sudden downpour shook up the order and handed the Mercedes driver an unexpected opportunity.
An Unexpected Podium Amid the Chaos of Rain
The race’s turning point came on lap 44 when Oscar Piastri, Lando Norris’s teammate, slid off the track at the penultimate corner due to the wet surface. The Australian’s mistake allowed Russell to move into third place, a position he held until the checkered flag.
For George Russell, the podium in Australia marked his best-ever result in a season opener.
“I’m really happy to have finished in P3,” said the Mercedes driver. “I want to congratulate Lando. In a race like this, being in the lead is probably your worst nightmare, but he did an outstanding job. I also want to say well done to Kimi [Antonelli]. It was a really impressive debut race for him. It wasn’t a perfect weekend for us, but finishing on the podium is a great result. Now let’s see what we can do next week.”
The extreme conditions played in Mercedes’ favor, allowing them to secure crucial points. Along with George Russell’s podium, the team also celebrated an incredible comeback from Andrea Kimi Antonelli. The young Italian rookie, who started 16th, finished fourth, delivering a remarkable performance on his F1 debut.
George Russell admitted he had a lot of fun during the race and praised his teammate’s performance: “It was really enjoyable. To be honest, I was hoping the two guys ahead of me would make a mistake so I could take advantage, but that didn’t happen today. The conditions were really tricky, but that’s what makes F1 so exciting. It’s what makes these races thrilling for both us drivers and the fans.”
With a strong start to the season and a competitive Mercedes in mixed conditions, George Russell and the team are already looking ahead to the next race with confidence.
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