Lando Norris made a blunt statement about his compatriot George Russell, stating that the Mercedes driver ‘always knows what he is doing’, when asked about who he considers the most ‘sneaky’ driver on the Formula 1 grid in 2026.
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In a conversation with the Daily Mail, Norris made a comparison between Russell, Max Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton, highlighting that the Mercedes driver is certainly among the smartest in F1. The 2025 champion also mentioned that, in the context of the major regulation changes for the new season, many drivers and teams have been accused of hiding their cars’ performance as they prepare for the Australian GP this coming weekend. According to Norris, Russell, in particular, is a master at creating a “nice guy” image, but with a cunning driving style.
“George always knows what he is doing. He tries to give the image of being the good guy, but he will do whatever is necessary, in a sneaky way sometimes. But I like him a lot. He is a very, very good driver. He plays the game whenever he needs to play. I mean, he is smart. Sometimes, he tries to give the impression that he isn’t,” stated the McLaren driver.
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Despite his analysis, Norris avoided pointing out who would be the most ‘sneaky’ driver on the grid, preferring to highlight Russell’s intelligence alongside other champions like Hamilton and Verstappen: “I don’t know who the sneakiest driver is. George is just a smart driver. Max and Lewis too. One is a seven-time world champion, the other is Max, and George is certainly among the smartest,” he added.
The McLaren driver continued, highlighting Russell’s ability to maintain his concentration and strategy during races: “He is always switched on, which is a strength. There is always a reason to put the car here or there, or do this or that. They (Russell, Hamilton and Verstappen) are not clumsy drivers. They are smart in that way,” concluded Norris.
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