Mercedes driver George Russell suggests that McLaren’s current advantage in Formula 1 is even greater than Red Bull’s dominance during their historic 2023 season.
Lando Norris’s victory in the Australian Grand Prix showcased McLaren’s strength, confirming their pre-season favorite status. A one-two finish for McLaren was likely, only prevented by Oscar Piastri’s spin in wet conditions.
Reflecting on the 2023 season, Russell had predicted Red Bull would win every race, and they nearly did, winning 21 of 22.
Ahead of the Chinese Grand Prix, Russell stated, ‘I think their car is definitely capable of winning every race. Their car should win every race, but I don’t think they will win every race this year. We will see.’
Max Verstappen set numerous records in 2023, securing his third of four consecutive driver’s championships. Russell seems to doubt that Norris and Piastri will maintain the same consistent high performance as Verstappen.
Russell capitalized on Piastri’s error in Melbourne to achieve a podium finish, while his teammate Andrea Kimi Antonelli finished fourth.
Russell commented, ‘The gap they have this year on everyone is bigger than Red Bull has ever had. But when Max was in that [2023] car, he was incredibly consistent every lap, every run in Q3, throughout qualifying, always delivering.’
‘Hopefully we can be ready to take advantage, just like we did in Melbourne, as it really should have been a one-two for them.’
Piastri: Russell’s Comments Are Exaggerated
Russell’s recent remarks follow his earlier statement in Melbourne suggesting McLaren could already shift focus to their 2026 car development due to their current advantage.
Oscar Piastri responded to Russell’s comments, calling them ‘pretty farfetched’.
‘I would be surprised if he seriously believes we are that far ahead. I believe we have a strong car, but the others can still catch up,’ Piastri added.
‘George has made some amusing statements lately.’
‘It’s just one race. This track has been favorable for us in recent years, even when our car wasn’t more dominant than Red Bull’s. We anticipate facing more challenges at different circuits, for sure.’
‘If he wants to dismiss his season after the first race, that’s his choice. But we recognize that Melbourne was an exceptional weekend, not necessarily the standard expectation.’
Verstappen: McLaren is ‘Super Strong’ but Comparisons Difficult
Verstappen dominated the 2023 season, breaking records and achieving the highest win percentage in a season.
When questioned about Russell’s comparison, Verstappen acknowledged McLaren’s strong position but hesitated to directly compare their dominance to Red Bull’s.
He stated, ‘It’s always difficult to give a precise answer because it’s impossible to know for sure unless you’ve driven their car yourself.’
‘They are very strong. I have great respect for their achievements last year and currently; they are very quick and perform well across the board.’
‘It’s undeniable they are strong now, but quantifying the exact gap is challenging.’
