I know my time will come - Russell exclusive

This video can not be played

Russell wont bow down to Verstappen

George Russell looks you in the eye and oozes self-belief as he describes how he feels heading into his seventh season in Formula 1, his first as effective leader of the Mercedes team.

"I know my time will come," the 27-year-old Briton says. "And Ive just got to ensure that I keep on performing. And whether its this year or next year, itll come.

"And if I keep delivering those results, as I did over these last three years against the best driver of all time, I believe I will get myself in the fight and hopefully a world championship to my name."

Russells self-confidence is deeply held, and has been there for as long as he has been racing. But it has been nurtured by the time he spent at Mercedes as team-mate to Lewis Hamilton.

Last year, Russell became the first driver in Hamiltons 18-year career to comprehensively beat the seven-time champion in qualifying over a full season. The head-to-head score was 19-five to Russell, at an average advantage of 0.171 seconds a lap.

And over their three years together since 2022, Russell finished ahead in the championship in two of them.

There are caveats - not least that Hamiltons final year at Mercedes came after he had told the team he was leaving them for Ferrari at the end of it.

But, as Russell puts it in an exclusive interview with BBC Sport: "The results speak for themselves. And I dont have anything I need to prove or show.

"I am proud of the results Ive achieved going up against somebody like Lewis.

"At the end of 2021, statistically and in terms of perception, Lewis was the greatest of all time. And Ive had three years against the greatest of all time, and I finished ahead of him two out of the three years I had as team-mates. And finished ahead more times in quali and more times in the race.

"If this was a different time or a different era, if you finish ahead of Lewis Hamilton, youre a world champion."

With Hamiltons departure, Russell, becomes the senior driver at Mercedes. His new team-mate is Andrea Kimi Antonelli, an 18-year-old Italian prodigy who has been on Mercedes books for several years.

"Hes a great kid," Russell says. "Hes very young, but hes a really nice guy. Super-fast, of course.

"Being thrown in at the deep end, which is going to be a big challenge. But in terms of raw speed, I dont think you can question it. And theres going to be an interesting new dynamic."

Hamiltons departure, Russell says, referencing the explosion of interest the move to Ferrari has created, "has been good for everyone".

"This is turning a page," Russell says about a team that had employed Hamilton for 12 years. "Its a new chapter. And I dont suddenly feel any additional responsibility."

And what does he think Hamilton faces at Ferrari, alongside new team-mate Charles Leclerc, against whom Russell has raced since they were boys in karting?

"Charles is a fantastic driver," Russell says. "No doubt about that. So Im going to be really intrigued to see how that pans out because theyre two amazing drivers.

"Hes obviously entering an Italian team where Charles has been very much the number one for the past six years. Its quite an interesting dynamic, but I think itll be close between the two of them."

George Russell and Max Verstappen criticised each other publically after a dispute at last years Qatar Grand Prix

There is one big elephant in the room as Mercedes head into 2025 - and its name is Max Verstappen.

Team boss Toto Wolff has said the team "very much hope that the 2025 line-up will be the line-up going forward". But it is no secret that that Wolff courted Verstappen last year, and still has hopes of attracting him to the team - perhaps as early as 2026.

If he succeeds, one of the current drivers - both of whom have been nurtured by the team for years - would have to find a seat elsewhere.

Russell is aware of this as a potential scenario, but professes not to be remotely concerned about it.

"I dont think theres any pressure whatsoever," he says "All I need to do is continue doing what Im doing, continue doing what Ive done my whole career.

"So that changes nothing. And its not even something Im thinking about. Because I 100% back myself. Its as simple as that. You perform and everything will be there for you.

"I want to go up against the best. I dont feel that my ability is in question."

The Verstappen question is given added edge when it comes to Russell because of their personal history. The pair had a major falling out at the end of last season and there is no sign of relations thawing this.

Russell says: "I wasnt going to just stand and be bullied around. People seem to always back down to him. And thats just not how I go about my business.

"Im not there to be best mates with a world champion. Im here to win. And thats his mentality as well. Theres no love lost.

"Ive never been scared to race against Max. Ive always put up a fight."

George Russell set the fastest time on the final day of pre-season testing in Bahrain on 28 February

Tense as the situation may be between Russell and Verstappen, any battles between them may not be for a race win at the start of the season, Russell believes.

"I dont think either of us right now have a car that potentially is capable of beating the McLaren," he says.

"McLaren, without doubt, look by far the strongest. Especially their race pace looks pretty impressive."

Mercedes won four races last year - two each for Russell and Hamilton - and have come into 2025 hoping for a car with more rounded abilities that can be competitive everywhere, rather than only on certain tracks and in certain conditions, as last year.

"Theres definitely improvements throughout the car, no doubt about it," Russell says. "Naturally, theres always something you need to work on.

"So, you know, we struggled a bit with low-speed understeer last year. Theres still signs of that that were still trying to get on top of, and we think weve got some things in the locker to try and cure those issues. But definitely the cars feeling a bit more together."

Russells focus this year will not only be on the track. As a director of the Grand Prix Drivers Association, he will also be forced to confront the concerns many in F1 have about the conduct of Mohammed Ben Sulayem, the president of governing body the FIA.

A series of Ben Sulayems actions have angered the drivers in recent years, and over the winter, new rules codifying a process by which drivers can face race bans for swearing have increased concerns.

Russell chooses his words carefully, but is firm about the drivers convictions.

"Things have gone a little bit out of hand in the recent months with some of the things that have been going on," he says, adding that he feels the FIAs stance is "unnecessary".

"Not only were racing drivers," he says, "were personalities, and if you are the individual who wants to swear as much as you like, that has a certain impact on your brand and your perception regardless of the FIA getting involved.

"Theres times and a place. You have to ensure that our emotions stay real and true, especially when it comes to the (in-car) radio, and potentially an interview straight after the race. Thats whats so pure about it.

"If youre talking on a Thursday afternoon in front of a number of people, maybe swearing is not really necessary or required. But when it comes to that raw emotion, you need to let us be as authentic as possible."