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George Russell says his long-awaited Formula 1 title challenge feels surprisingly normal as he focuses on execution over expectation.

George Russell has waited longer than expected for a genuine shot at the Formula 1 world title and now that it has arrived, his reaction has surprised even himself.

Speaking at Silverstone, where he was opening a new karting centre, the Mercedes driver reflected on a journey that has come full circle. Karting was where it all began for him more than two decades ago and Formula 1 glory was always the destination, just not quite on this timeline.

When Russell joined Mercedes in 2022 from Williams, expectations were sky-high. The team had just come off a dominant era, and he was stepping in alongside Lewis Hamilton, fresh from his dramatic title battle with Max Verstappen.

Russell proved himself against Hamilton, outperforming him across their three seasons together. But Mercedes' form dipped, delaying his chance to fight at the front.

Now, with the team back in contention, Russell insists his mindset has not changed.

Rather than focusing on the championship, he says his attention remains on the details qualifying laps, race starts and execution. The broader title picture, he suggests, takes care of itself if those processes are right.

The 2026 season began strongly, with victory and pole position in Australia and another win in the sprint race in China. But momentum shifted quickly.

A technical issue in qualifying in China allowed 19-year-old team-mate Kimi Antonelli to take pole and claim his maiden win. In Japan, race circumstances again favoured Antonelli, who secured a second victory while Russell finished fourth.

As a result, Antonelli leads the championship by nine points heading into Miami.

Russell appears unfazed, noting that Mercedes' current dominance has changed the nature of competition. Mistakes are less costly when the field is less tightly packed at the front something he acknowledges has benefited both drivers.

He is also quick to praise Antonelli, describing him as a "fantastic driver" while stressing the season is still in its early stages.

Despite the intra-team battle, Russell welcomes stronger competition from elsewhere.

He says he thrives on beating rivals at their best and would prefer a more crowded fight at the front — even if that makes victory harder to achieve.

One notable absentee from that fight is Verstappen. The Red Bull driver has endured a difficult start to the season, leaving him outside the title picture.

Russell admits he would prefer Verstappen to be involved, despite their history of on-track clashes and off-track tension. He says there is now mutual respect between them, acknowledging Verstappen's achievements and suggesting his rival has earned the freedom to take a broader approach to racing.

Verstappen has been among the most vocal critics of Formula 1's new regulations, which feature a 50-50 split between internal combustion and electric power. He has described the racing in unflattering terms, questioning the impact of energy management on performance.

Russell, however, disagrees.

He says he is enjoying the new cars and believes they have improved racing by allowing more wheel-to-wheel battles. Drawing a comparison with karting, he argues that frequent overtaking should be seen as a positive rather than a flaw.

As a director of the Grand Prix Drivers' Association, Russell has worked with the FIA to refine the rules, particularly around qualifying, to ensure drivers can push flat-out more consistently.

He also places the current era in historical context, pointing out that past generations of Formula 1 had their own quirks — even if they are often remembered more fondly.

Off track, Russell's future appears secure. Amid previous interest from Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff in Verstappen, Russell has since signed a new contract, with performance-based clauses expected to keep him at the team beyond 2026.

With the fastest car beneath him and his long-awaited opportunity finally here, Russell's focus is clear.

Winning, he says, is all that matters one race at a time.