The Hungarian Grand Prix, the 14th round of the 2025 Formula 1 World Championship, concluded with George Russell securing a hard-fought third place finish. The Mercedes-AMG Petronas Formula One Team driver managed to climb onto the final step of the podium after an intense race at the Hungaroring circuit, where he engaged in a high-stakes battle with Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc. During the post-race interview, given immediately after stepping off the podium, Russell voiced criticism of the Ferrari driver’s defensive tactics.
George Russell’s race was near flawless from start to finish. Starting from fourth position on the grid, he immediately capitalised on a poor getaway and early issues experienced by Lando Norris, moving ahead of the McLaren driver during the opening laps. However, the dominance of the McLaren MCL39 soon became apparent, and Russell was overtaken a few laps later, unable to defend against the superior pace of the car ahead.
Like the race leaders, George Russell opted for a two-stop tyre strategy, which proved to be the optimal choice under the conditions at the Hungarian circuit. With 20 laps remaining in the race, an opportunity to fight for the podium opened up for the British driver. Due to issues faced by Charles Leclerc — including significant performance drop-off and fuel-saving requirements — Russell was able to close the gap rapidly, setting up a tense showdown between the Mercedes and Ferrari drivers.
After an initial failed overtaking attempt, blocked by strong defensive driving from Leclerc, Russell launched another attack on the following lap. Going into Turn 1, he performed a daring late-braking manoeuvre, coming dangerously close to contact with the Ferrari. Despite the tight space and high risk, the move proved successful, and Russell completed the pass to take third place.
However, George Russell did not hide his concerns regarding the way Charles Leclerc defended the position. During the interview, he reflected on the moment with a tone of criticism: “Yesterday’s qualifying session really mixed up the order, but I was very happy with my race pace today. That battle with Charles for the podium was right on the edge. It was one of those moments where you fully commit to making an overtake, even if it’s quite risky, and the driver ahead starts moving under braking. We came very close to making contact, but thankfully, it all ended well.”
George Russell’s remarks highlight the fine margins and high tension typical of close racing at the top level of Formula 1, especially when fighting for podium positions in the final stages of a Grand Prix.
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