The Mercedes driver George Russell aligns with Stefano Domenicali. Should Max Verstappen decide to leave the sport, Formula 1 would still continue to thrive because it is bigger than any individual, even champions of the Dutchman’s calibre.
“Formula 1 is bigger than any driver.” A concept that has been gaining more and more support in recent weeks has once again come to the forefront.
In the exclusive interview Stefano Domenicali — CEO and President of Formula 1 — gave to Motorsport.com, he had already expressed this idea while commenting on the Dutch driver’s complaints.
“It is positive that [Max] is pushing to get something done, and we have said that if there is a willingness to bring a topic forward, we can do it in the right way, in the right place, because this is the nature of our sport.
“I will never be confrontational, it is not my style and, in the end, it does not bring value to anyone. Sport is bigger than each one of us, than anyone. And this is something everyone must remember. Everyone means everyone, no one excluded.”
A week after Stefano Domenicali’s words, George Russell responded. The Mercedes driver, during a media session also attended by Motorsport.com, was even more direct than the F1 CEO.
His position is the same as Stefano Domenicali’s, but expressed in far less polished and institutional terms.
“Nobody would want to lose Max, because I think we all enjoy racing against him and he is simply an integral part of Formula 1,” said the Mercedes driver, currently second in the Drivers’ Championship.
“I didn’t enjoy driving the 2022 car when it had so much bouncing that was destroying everyone’s back. The car was big, it was heavy, it wasn’t very pleasant to drive in high-speed corners, but he didn’t have the same complaints because he was winning.”
“Now, the complaints he has are different from those of Mercedes, Ferrari and McLaren because we are at the front of the grid and that is completely natural; you understand and recognise the frustration, but he has achieved what most drivers dream of, which is winning a championship. He has won four, and ultimately I guess there comes a point in life where there is not much else to achieve in Formula 1.”
“He has ticked all the boxes, maybe he can go for records, but knowing him as I do and knowing drivers who have won or achieved similar results, at some point you want to do what makes you smile, and if that is driving the Nordschleife, I fully understand why driving the Nordschleife makes him smile.”
“I have done hundreds of laps of the Nordschleife in the simulator and I would love to have the chance to go racing at the Nordschleife, but my goal right now is to become Formula 1 World Champion. If I had already won four, I would probably do the same. So, you know, he is in a very different stage of his career and yes, I think you would understand it if he stayed and you would understand it if he left.”
The dialogue surrounding the sport’s icons and its institutional stability highlights the evolving nature of the paddock. As drivers navigate their own professional milestones and personal passions, the enduring legacy of Formula 1 continues to provide a platform that transcends individual careers and eras.
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