George Russell has declared that “it’s time” for someone to challenge Max Verstappen with a proper fight for the Formula 1 championship. Following his victory at the Las Vegas Grand Prix, Russell expressed his determination to disrupt Verstappen’s dominance in the sport.
Russell secured a commanding win from pole position in Las Vegas, leading a Mercedes 1-2 finish with teammate Lewis Hamilton. This marked Mercedes’ first 1-2 victory of the season and highlighted Russell’s strong campaign, which includes two race wins so far.
Reflecting on his season, Russell noted that he could have claimed a third victory if not for a disqualification earlier in the year. He also led in Brazil before Mercedes called him into the pit lane during a Virtual Safety Car period—a strategy decision he admitted he would have avoided.
Speaking after his Vegas triumph, Russell shared his ambition to be the driver who brings the fight to Verstappen: “I just want to make sure we’re in that battle now because it’s time someone gave him a real fight,” he told Viaplay. “That’s my plan, that’s what I aim to do.
“He’s a formidable competitor, and Red Bull is doing an excellent job, but this championship needs to go down to the wire. Max has shown incredible consistency, and even when he’s not the outright favorite, he finds a way to win.
“We need to put everything together to make it more challenging for him and bring a proper contest to the front.”
Verstappen clinched his fourth F1 championship in Las Vegas with a P5 finish, narrowly ahead of Lando Norris. Earlier in the season, Norris appeared poised to mount a serious title challenge after McLaren gained an edge over Red Bull post-Imola. However, despite Verstappen winning only one race since the Spanish Grand Prix in June, his consistency and ability to maximize the RB20’s performance kept him ahead of Norris.
During the FIA press conference, Russell praised Verstappen’s campaign while reiterating his own aspirations. “What Max achieved is extraordinary,” Russell said. “He had a dominant car early on, but even when things turned against him, he delivered week in and week out, getting the best results possible.
“We need to make sure we’re part of that battle next year and give him a harder time because it’s overdue. We feel ready to rise to the challenge and take the fight to the top.”
As Formula 1 looks ahead to the next season, Russell’s ambition signals a potential shake-up in the championship dynamics, with Mercedes aiming to reclaim their dominance and Russell determined to lead the charge.
