George Russell has confessed that he and his fellow Formula 1 drivers are “pretty jealous” of Max Verstappen’s ability to freely pursue racing opportunities outside of F1 — and win while he’s at it.
The Dutchman, a four-time world champion, made headlines last weekend by claiming victory on his GT3 debut on the Nürburgring’s daunting Nordschleife, reinforcing his reputation as a generational talent with ambitions beyond Formula 1.
Russell, who has four Grand Prix wins to his name with Mercedes, admitted he envies Verstappen’s freedom to chase other motorsport dreams while remaining dominant in F1.
“It’s incredible, to be honest,” Russell said. “I think we're all pretty jealous of it, because having this freedom of firstly doing what you love in Formula 1, but then also being able to go out and race other things and just enjoy it at your leisure...
“I don't think it's quite that straightforward for other people doing it, but you have that right when you win four world championships, and we're all here fighting to win our first.
©Ferrari
“Maybe after four championships under our belts, we'll be able to choose to do the same. But no, I respect it a lot and definitely I would love to do it one day. Brilliant.”
Russell’s remarks highlight how Verstappen’s status allows him to break from the hyper-specialized modern era of Formula 1, recalling a time when drivers often raced across multiple disciplines.
Asked whether Verstappen’s foray into endurance racing added to his legacy, McLaren’s Lando Norris downplayed the idea of it defining his greatness but praised the Dutchman’s adaptability.
“I don't know how much it adds to your greatness or not, but the fact he can go into any series and be probably the best does show how good he is and how great he is,” Norris said.
“I've said it many times, I think he's born to be and will forever be one of the best ever, and if not the best in Formula 1.
“So I think for anyone to have a chance of going up against him and beating him is pretty slim at times. But no, it's cool. I respect it. I think it's a great thing. If I could go and do it more, maybe I would.”
In a sense, Verstappen’s Nürburgring success is seen as a nod to F1’s past, when drivers regularly switched between categories such as endurance racing, IndyCar, and Formula 1.
For Russell, Norris and many of their peers, it represents both admiration and a hint of envy – and a reminder that Verstappen’s outstanding talent is not confined to a single paddock.
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