'We're getting the best result possible most weekends' – Russell reflects on season and title battle ahead of Mexico

George Russell admits that while he wouldn't say "I’m proud to be P4" in the Drivers' Championship, the Mercedes driver believes "we’re getting the best result possible most weekends".

The Briton, who agreed to a new contract ahead of the United States Grand Prix last weekend, that will keep him at Mercedes for 2026, has been one of the standout drivers this season.

Russell sits behind only McLaren team mates Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris, as well as Red Bull's Max Verstappen in the standings, and joins them as the only drivers to win this season.

The 27-year-old's two wins in Canada and Singapore have both come from pole position, while Russell has added a further six podiums from 19 races so far.

“It’s been a solid season. I don’t think I’m going to say I’m proud to be P4, but I’m proud that every race, we’re getting the best result possible most weekends out," he said on Thursday's media day ahead of the Mexico City Grand Prix this weekend.

"Last weekend, we didn’t, so I left Austin feeling a bit disappointed, and how confident are we that we can be on the right side of those fine margins?

"You can never be, because it is literally... last weekend it was 20 milliseconds between P2 and P4, and that probably was the difference between being on the podium or not on the podium. So you just know that come Q3, come the race start, you just really need to bring your A-game if you want to step on the podium.”

While Russell remains mathematically in contention for this year's world title, realistically the battle is between Piastri, Norris and Verstappen, with just 14 points separating the McLaren drivers and 40 covering all three.

Although Verstappen has been on a charge and reduced a 104-point gap courtesy of three wins in the last four Grands Prix, Russell believes it will still be a step too far.

"I still think it’s going to be one of the McLaren drivers – or it should be, because I still think they have the fastest car," he said.

“But obviously, Max is doing a great job at the moment, and they seem to have found some form which they haven’t shown all season, and they look good on every kind of circuit.

"But they struggled a lot here last year. Ferrari won here and McLaren were quick here last year – we finished ahead of Max.

“After this weekend, if it’s a McLaren 1-2 and Max in P7, everything changes again, so I think it’ll be one of the McLaren guys.”