Martin Brundle believes George Russell is ready to become a Formula 1 world champion and “has got all the confidence he needs” to deliver this year. However, whether or not the 28-year-old can deliver on his pre-season status as the bookies’ favourite for the title will depend on the new Mercedes car living up to the hype.

The Silver Arrows did look strong in pre-season testing, while Russell and key figures like team principal Toto Wolff have given an air of confidence ahead of the new campaign. But rival teams also delivered stronger reliability and pace than some had expected, muddying the waters somewhat ahead of next weekend’s opener in Melbourne.

And Brundle too thinks that there is “not a clear favourite” as it stands, despite the bookies giving Russell and Mercedes significantly shorter odds than some other teams. But one thing the Sky Sports pundit and former F1 driver has no doubt about is that his fellow Brit is ready to seize any opportunity that comes.

Brundle said: “I do think he’s ready for it. He’s a smart guy – they’re all smart guys – though George has got the team around him. Kimi [Antonelli] will be stronger this year in the other car, but George is completely out of Lewis [Hamilton]’s shadow there. He’s the king of the castle at Mercedes-Benz. He did all those years at Williams and then he went to Mercedes when they just stopped dominating, so he’s done the hard yards.

“I think he’s got the experience, he’s got the car control, and I think he will command the respect in the team to help drive what’s going to be an incredibly changeable year. I think his team-mate Kimi Antonelli will have a great season as well.

Ensure our latest sport headlines always appear at the top of your Google Search by making us a Preferred Source. Click here to activate or add us as your Preferred Source in your Google search settings.

“But George has got all the confidence he needs to win races and to go and win a championship, if it’s available to him. We questioned that with Lando [Norris] last year, and Oscar [Piastri] too, whether they would wilt under pressure from Max [Verstappen], and they didn’t. I think George is in a very good place.”

Mercedes have high hopes for Antonelli’s future, having fast-tracked him into F1 as an 18-year-old last year, and the Italian teenager will undoubtedly better off with a year’s experience of the sport under his belt. But Brundle is certain that Russell will have enough to see off any threat that comes from his team-mate, adding: “Remember, [Russell] grew up in Lewis Hamilton’s shadow at Mercedes, and he handled that, and eventually in the final year they were team-mates, he beat Lewis clearly.

“So, I have no doubts about him whatsoever. They’re all world-class drivers in F1, you’ve got to beat them somehow. I think George has got so much experience now despite not being 30 yet, that I don’t think anything will distract him if he’s got a championship-winning car.”