George Russell suggests there were underlying challenges behind his triumph at the 2025 Singapore GP.
George Russell has disclosed that he was managing "a lot" behind the scenes during the weekend of his 2025 Singapore Grand Prix triumph, stating "not many people are aware" of what transpired off the track.
The Mercedes racer spoke with Austrian broadcaster ORF Sport, which presented him with images of himself celebrating last year's success at the Marina Bay Street Circuit alongside his partner, Carmen Montero Mundt.
"It was an incredibly significant weekend because there were numerous events unfolding behind the scenes that not many are privy to."
When prompted by the interviewer for a clue about what he meant, the British driver refused: "No, one day."
He elaborated on why those pictures held such importance for him.
"Mentally, my mind was quite occupied," Russell noted. "Then going out, securing pole position, and winning the race was an exceptionally special moment, especially with Carmen there as well.
"The reason these images and this occasion were so meaningful to me is that she supported me during those off-track challenges I was facing, which is the aspect that people don't witness."
George Russell, Mercedes
The triumph at the 2025 Singapore Grand Prix marked his second win of the season and compensated for earlier letdowns at Marina Bay. In 2023, he crashed on the last lap while in third place, missing out on what seemed like a guaranteed podium finish.
This season, Russell currently holds second place in the drivers' standings with 238 points, trailing his Mercedes teammate Kimi Antonelli by 102 points. Ferrari's Lewis Hamilton is in third place with 229 points.
"I will continue to battle in every single race until it's mathematically impossible," Russell expressed to the media during the Azerbaijan Grand Prix weekend.
"My approach to my job remains unchanged. I aim to win every race and secure pole position at every event.
"That's my objective. That's what I strive for every weekend, and whatever follows will unfold. There's certainly a significant gap, but that's not a consideration at this moment. Performance is my top priority.
"I don't believe I was exerting pressure on myself previously from a championship perspective. It was more about performance. I'm in this championship position because the performance has not been adequate.
"For a while now, the pressure has stemmed from the need to enhance performance, rather than feeling the need to contend for this championship, as one can only vie for a championship if they have the performance to back it up."
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