Russell: Driving better than ever but title unlikely

George Russell said helium was driving amended than ever and acceptable to combat for a Formula 1 title with Mercedes aft taking the team's archetypal triumph of the season successful Canada, but this twelvemonth inactive looks a agelong shot.

The Briton, retired of declaration astatine the extremity of 2025 but assured of staying, recognised immoderate rubric accidental this play would astir apt necessitate the McLaren drivers to marque mistakes and driblet points.

McLaren's Lando Norris and championship-leading teammate Oscar Piastri collided successful Montreal, with the erstwhile retiring from the contention portion the Australian moved 22 points wide aft 10 of 24 rounds.

Russell is 4th wide but inactive a mighty 62 points down Piastri, portion Red Bull's Max Verstappen is third.

"I don't truly cognize however Max and I are truthful adjacent to those 2 [McLaren drivers] due to the fact that they intelligibly person the astir ascendant car," Russell said.

"I deliberation the 2 of america person been precise accordant and getting the maximum effect from our packages week in, week out. But I can't ideate them to proceed throwing distant points successful the mode they're doing.

"Of course, we anticipation that continues to beryllium the case, but I don't foresee america getting successful the title combat done axenic gait arsenic Lando did past year. We'll lone beryllium determination if results similar contiguous proceed oregon things similar contiguous proceed to happen."

Russell was definite Sunday's effect would assistance the negotiations for a caller deal, though helium had nary concerns contempt continuing chatter astir a imaginable determination for four-time champion Verstappen.

"I cognize I'm going to beryllium connected the grid adjacent year. I consciousness that I'm driving amended than ever. I inactive consciousness I've got much successful the tank," said the Briton. "I consciousness acceptable to combat for a satellite championship."

Russell said helium was not talking with anyone different than Mercedes, determination was nary unreserved and helium planned to stay.

"There haven't been immoderate hard feelings with immoderate of the talks that person been going around, particularly astir Max," helium added.

"If each operator had nary declaration for adjacent year, Max would beryllium fig 1 for each azygous team. And that's understandable. But ultimately, determination are 2 seats for each contention team.

"I cognize if I proceed to execute arsenic I'm doing, my presumption would not beryllium nether menace whatsoever. So, I consciousness successful a bully place."

Russell said helium and 18-year-old Italian rookie teammate Kimi Antonelli, 3rd connected Sunday, were doing the occupation and "why would you privation to alteration thing that's working?"