Mercedes F1 star George Russell has shot back at Max Verstappen in a fresh set of statements following their latest war of words. Heading into the 2025 season, the Briton has been determined to step up even more with his game, taking responsibility as Mercedes' number one driver .

Russell has made it clear that he is ready to take on Verstappen and has no intention of backing down in any on-track battles. The British driver also emphasised that he is not concerned about the possibility of Toto Wolff pursuing Verstappen for a future Mercedes seat.

At the recent F1 75 Anniversary Event in London, Max Verstappen, the reigning world champion, faced a wave of boos from the crowd. Held at the O2 Arena on a Tue

They will join some familiar faces on the grid as Hadjar, Mercedes starlet Kimi Antonelli and Gabriel Bortoleto - the F2 champion who joined Sauber - will also line up on the grid at the first race of the season in Australia on Sunday, March 16.

Prior to the 2024 season, for the first time in F1 history, not one team changed their driver lineup in the off-season. It gave the look of a sport in stagnation, particularly amid Max Verstappen’s hyper-dominance,