Canadian Grand Prix winner George Russell feels he’s driving higher than he ever has as he approaches the ultimate six months of his Mercedes contract.
Sunday’s win in Montreal was arrange by Russell’s pole lap on Saturday, the place he beat Max Verstappen by 0.160s, and he duly held the lead off the road earlier than maintaining the Dutchman at bay all through the race. Securing the fourth win of his profession, Russell – who’s out of contract on the finish of the season – says his performances assist his negotiating place.
“It would not damage!” Russell mentioned. “It would not damage in any respect. However as I’ve mentioned many occasions, I am not involved in any respect about subsequent 12 months. I do know I’ll be on the grid subsequent 12 months. I really feel that I am driving higher than ever. I nonetheless really feel I’ve obtained extra within the tank.
“I really feel able to combat for a world championship, and I feel outcomes like at present, outcomes like Bahrain this 12 months once we obtained half an opportunity of a great consequence, we’re there to take it. And I am fairly relaxed. Simply having fun with the second, having fun with my racing, and simply taking it week by week.”
Russell admits Mercedes had excessive expectations arriving in Montreal following a powerful exhibiting a 12 months in the past, and is happy the group was in a position to maximize its potential for its first win of the season.
“it has been nice to get the win and seeing Kimi [Antonelli] up right here as properly on the rostrum. Actually, actually happy for him. And as a group, we have been performing so properly this 12 months. Up till the final triple header, we would maximized each single race weekend, whether or not that was the P2 in Bahrain or the opposite podiums we had.
“However coming into Canada, we knew we did have the potential to combat for pole and for the race win, and, in the end, it got here all the way down to that quali lap. There was clearly not a lot motion by way of positions shuffling round however actually happy with the job.”
Russell was made to attend for his victory to be confirmed by a Pink Bull protest, however in the course of the race he felt he had Verstappen underneath management given the tempo Mercedes may show.
“To be sincere, for the final couple of weeks, clearly, there’s numerous noise occurring, after what occurred in Spain as properly. However from my facet, you place it to 1 facet, and you understand that for those who make a great begin, you get right into a groove… I knew I had doubtlessly the quickest automobile, you have to dial into that and put the entire extra noise to 1 facet.
“After all, it was a bit difficult at factors while you had Charles [Leclerc] and Lando [Norris] on the offset technique, they usually have been type of getting in our method. However as quickly as I had clear air, I may comfortably pull the hole out. It wasn’t lifeless straightforward, however I felt assured in myself and the automobile.
“I used to be maintaining an in depth eye on how Kimi was getting on, and on the TVs, and seeing Lando and Oscar [Piastri] closing down. However, no, it was a great day, and I really feel happy with myself, really feel happy with the group, particularly after this time 12 months in the past when it was a victory misplaced.”
