George Russell hailed a “complete driver” in Max Verstappen F1 comparison

British racing driver Jamie Chadwick believes George Russell is evolving right into a “full driver” in F1 – drawing comparisons with reigning world champion Max Verstappen.

Russell dominated final weekend’s Singapore Grand Prix from pole place to safe his second victory of the yr.

The Mercedes driver has gone from energy to energy this season.

Since Lewis Hamilton’s change to Ferrari, Russell has stepped up as Mercedes’ group chief, demonstrating unbelievable pace and consistency.

There’s a good argument to make that Russell has been the standout performer this yr alongside Verstappen.

Talking on the Sky F1 Podcast, Chadwick highlighted Russell’s performances “beneath strain” as he fights for a brand new Mercedes deal.

“I believe we speak lots about how Max is the entire driver, however I do assume that George is coming into that class,” Chadwick mentioned.

“There’s the class of racing drivers who have gotten the power to qualify, race wheel-to-wheel, not crash, carry out beneath strain, and there are only a few of them in the meanwhile.

“What’s spectacular now’s that he can carry out beneath strain. He’s beneath plenty of strain. He at all times is, however we’re continually asking about his contract, what place he’s in there.

“He was additionally in poor health final weekend in Baku, and he has to exit and carry out on the road. I believe now he is ready to turn into this driver that may sort of do all of it.”

Russell has “discovered lots”

Russell needed to bide his time earlier than getting his likelihood at Mercedes.

He spent three years at Williams in uncompetitive equipment earlier than incomes promotion alongside Hamilton.

Sadly for Russell, his Mercedes alternative coincided with the group’s downturn in kind in 2022.

Nonetheless, Russell’s fame has solely improved through the years, significantly as he beat Hamilton in 2024.

Chadwick, who’s a detailed pal of Russell, defined his relentless work ethic and “depth” to make sure he’s able to win a world title in F1.

“I can’t categorical how spectacular George is,” Chadwick defined. “I spend plenty of time with him and yearly he turns into an increasing number of spectacular. He’s evolving, maturing, growing and with that changing into a lot extra conscious of what he must work on and the way he works on it.

“He’s received this depth round racing as a result of it’s his life and every part he desires is to win a world championship. This results in this hard-working nature. It’s not simply within the automobile. It’s outdoors the automobile.

“All the things that he does now may be very a lot centred round ensuring he might be in the perfect place potential to win races and I believe as a human being, he’s advanced lots. He’s discovered lots.

“He’s spectacular like I say. You see it from inside and so when he will get outcomes, as a pal, and seeing him flourish, you’re taking your hat off to him as a result of you’ll be able to see precisely the place it stems from and the place he’s capable of obtain that from.”