George Russell in Singapore - Photo: Race Pictures

Russell sees comparison drawn to Senna: 'As good as it gets'

08:25, 08 Oct

byOlly Darcy

George Russell's Singapore Grand Prix performance has been compared to the driving of Ayrton Senna by F1 analyst Peter Windsor, saying that driving was "as good as it gets".

"I defy anybody to have been quicker than George... a lot of it was just due to what he wanted from the feel of the car."

- Peter Windsor on George Russell

The Brit added another impressive performance to a growing list in 2025, dominating proceedings at the Marina Bay Street Circuit to take his second win of the season.

Russell's victory stemmed from a might qualifying lap that saw him take pole position, and Windsor saw plenty of comparibles between the 27-year-old and the late great Senna.

"In terms of long-corner drivers, George in 2025 is as good as it gets," the Australian stated on his YouTube channel.

Max Verstappen congratulates George Russell on his Singapore Grand Prix victory - Photo: RacePictures.

"For viewers who were too young ever to have seen Ayrton Senna drive, have a look at George, because he's not that far away from the way Ayrton drove, and the way he energises the car, but keeps it very, very longitudinal.

"He's square to the road, but there's a lot of energy he's squeezing through the car all the time. It's not like Lando, fairly relaxed feel to the car. It's not an Oscar mini power slide. It looks beautiful. All the straight lines are joined.

"I defy anybody to have been quicker than George through turn 1 in third gear, purely because of the way he was he was using the revs going in there. Some of it, maybe, was engine braking, but a lot of it was just due to what he wanted from the feel of the car in terms of the moment he turned in from his straight-line entry. That's pure Ayrton Senna."

Contract talk heats up once more

It was another performance that showed Russell's worth to Mercedes, with the Brit now sitting on 237 points in the drivers' standings, 36 points away from Max Verstappen in P3.

His Singapore win also saw the German team extend their gap to Ferrari in the constructors' championship, now sitting on 325 points and 27 clear of the Scuderia.

However, although there has been verbal confirmation about Russell's future at Mercedes for 2026, there has still yet to be an official announcement. CEO and team principal Toto Wolff was questioned about Russell's contract in Singapore as the wait continues.

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