©Mercedes
5. George Russell – Mercedes-AMG
Championship final position: 6th
Number of wins: 2
Number of poles: 3
With Lewis Hamilton committing to a move to Ferrari early in 2024, the question arose: could George Russell establish himself as Mercedes’ standout driver and future leader? With three pole positions and two race wins under his belt, the prospects are certainly promising.
Despite the challenges posed by an underperforming "Silver Arrow," the young Brit consistently delivered. His qualifying performances were particularly impressive, achieving a flawless record of top-10 starts. On race days, Russell was just as dependable, finishing in the points every time he saw the chequered flag, with only two retirements over the season.
As Russell steps into the role of Mercedes’ lead driver in 2025, he faces the challenge of evolving further. His raw talent is unquestionable, but to truly cement his leadership, he’ll need to channel his competitive drive into the cockpit and shed the polished but sometimes superficial image. The dynamic between Russell and Andrea Kimi Antonelli -- Mercedes’ rising star and Toto Wolff’s latest protégé -- will also be fascinating to watch.
