George Russell will start Sunday’s Abu Dhabi Grand Prix from fourth place on the grid, staring at three title contenders stacked directly ahead of him – and quietly hoping Max Verstappen becomes his unlikely ally.
Not by teaming up, of course, but by doing what Verstappen does best: controlling a race from the front and squeezing McLaren into a tactical chokehold.
McLaren enter Sunday with the upper hand. Lando Norris has a 12-point cushion over Verstappen and only needs a podium to lock down his first world title.
But with Verstappen on pole and Oscar Piastri completing the McLaren sandwich, Russell can already see the outlines of a wild finale. And in that picture, he believes Verstappen is perfectly placed to slam the brakes – figuratively – on McLaren’s championship march.
No Need To Drive Like a Hooligan
Speaking after qualifying, Russell spelled out exactly why he wants Verstappen to lead into the first corner and stay planted ahead of the papaya cars.
“I hope Max is still leading after Lap 1. He’s not just going to drive into the distance, you don’t need to drive like a hooligan, not do anything crazy just to manage the pace,” the Briton told Viaplay.
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For Russell, Verstappen playing the long game could turn Yas Marina into a pressure cooker.
“You see many drivers do this… Monaco, Singapore, this is normal. Hopefully for us he’s still leading after lap 1, and then I’m sure there will be some opportunities.”
If Verstappen succeeds in backing up Norris and Piastri, Russell could suddenly find himself in the right place at the right time – a luxury Mercedes have rarely enjoyed this season.
Opportunity May Beckon
Despite the title arithmetic swirling around him, Russell insists he will race as if it were any ordinary Sunday. But that doesn’t mean he’ll hesitate if the front three start tripping over one another.
“My mood is the same as any other race to be honest,” he said. “I know what’s on the line for those three but I’ve got to treat it like a normal race.
“I think in normal circumstances we don’t have the pace but obviously if Lap 1 finishes in the order we start the race I can’t imagine Max just driving off into the sunset so there could be opportunity.”
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Russell says he’ll stay measured – but opportunistic.
“I am going to treat it like any other race. If there’s an opportunity or a gap… if this was race one of the season I wouldn’t be aiming to do anything reckless but I am not going to leave opportunities on the table,” he added.
“I want to finish on the podium and finish this year on a high. I have got to be honest, I won’t sleep better or worse no matter who wins the championship tomorrow. I will be doing my own thing and go from there.”
And for anyone wondering whether he might get caught up in championship politics?
“That’s not the intention of any driver. As I said, I won’t be risking more. I won’t be risking less. I’m just going about my business as normal,” he ensured.
Tomorrow, three drivers will be fighting for the crown – but Russell will be right behind them, waiting for the sparks to fly.
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