George Russell has shared his insights on how the F1 team that invests in car development the furthest into the season is likely to come out on top in the title race this year. He did note, though, that concentrating too much on the current car could put that team at a disadvantage when the regulations undergo a significant reset in 2026.
This year’s competitions at the front are anticipated to be closely contested, much like they were throughout last year. The technical regulations haven’t changed dramatically during the off-season, as teams gear up for a big overhaul less than a year from now.
Russell sees McLaren, last year’s constructors’ champions, as the frontrunners as the season kicks off, yet he believes the development race will ultimately determine who leads the title charge. “If you think back to how dominant McLaren was in the latter half of last season, they’re undoubtedly the team to beat this year,” he told reporters, including those from RacingNews365.
“Even when other teams had strong weekends, McLaren was always right there battling. They only really struggled in one event throughout 2024,” Russell remarked.
“The fun part lies in seeing who continues to make improvements. That’s likely who’ll clinch the championship,” he added. “But focusing too much on now means you might face challenges in 2026. If teams are neck and neck at the start, they might keep pushing their development through the year.”
He also pointed out that a team could stay competitive if their car adapts well to late-season races, recalling the 2021 season as a case in point. “Look at 2021 with Lewis and Max,” Russell said. “Mercedes stopped major developments but managed to fine-tune their car and setup, unlocking significant performance gains in the latter half of the year.”
This improvement came from making slight adjustments to the setup. “As regulations approach their end, things naturally get tighter, but I still see McLaren being a leading force,” he concluded, suggesting they plan to stay dominant in the upcoming battles.
