In the high-octane world of Formula 1, Mercedes driver George Russell has boldly declared that McLaren currently holds a dominant position that surpasses even that of Red Bull at its peak. Russell, known for his candid predictions, had once suggested that Red Bull would clinically sweep all victories after the 2023 season-opener, a prediction that was thwarted only by the Singapore debacle that led to Carlos Sainz’s win. However, the remaining 21 Grand Prix of that year saw Red Bull reigning supreme.
Now, Russell believes that McLaren has skyrocketed its command in 2025, surpassing even the high standard set by Red Bull in 2023. In his view, McLaren drivers Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri may not utilize this car advantage to the same extent as Max Verstappen did. “Their car is certainly primed for victory in every race,” stated Russell, who had previously hinted that McLaren could potentially halt the development of its 2025 car and shift focus to 2026. “Their car should win every race, but I don’t foresee them conquering all this year. Let’s wait and watch.”
He further emphasized that McLaren’s current advantage over other teams surpasses any lead Red Bull ever held. However, he also acknowledged the reliability Verstappen portrayed during his time in the 2023 car, which was a consistent performer throughout qualifying rounds.
When asked about Russell’s remarks, Verstappen admitted his inability to make such a comparison, stressing that it’s challenging to judge unless you’ve driven the car yourself. However, he echoed Russell’s sentiment about McLaren’s current strength. “They’re incredibly strong. I have immense respect for their achievements last year, and now they’re extremely fast. They’re comprehensive and strong everywhere,” said Verstappen.
Russell concurred with an assessment made by The Race, suggesting that McLaren’s lead can be attributed to their superior handling of Pirelli tyres, rather than traditional downforce advantage. He also noted that there are limited opportunities for other teams to improve in this area due to tight control.
Russell did not expect the FIA’s clampdown on flexing rear wing, which is set to be implemented from the Chinese Grand Prix, to impact McLaren’s advantage. He predicted that McLaren’s ability to preserve tyres, as demonstrated in Melbourne, would be replicable at most tracks, with a potential vulnerability when conditions are colder.
“They may struggle when it’s cold,” Russell speculated. “They seem to be better at cooling their tyres than everyone else. We saw this last year when they were significantly ahead of other teams during the challenging Singapore street circuit and at Zandvoort. Yet, they fell behind in Vegas.”
He further suggested that McLaren may find difficulties on outlier circuits, but he also expects them to prepare countermeasures, given their awareness of potential challenges. As the F1 season progresses, all eyes will be on McLaren to see if they can maintain their current dominance and prove Russell’s predictions accurate.