Key Highlights
- George Russell said “a lot” was happening behind the scenes during his 2025 Singapore Grand Prix weekend.
- Russell said Carmen Montero Mundt was present through the off-track moments he was dealing with and was with him for the Marina Bay victory celebration.
- Russell is second on 238 points, 102 behind Mercedes teammate Kimi Antonelli, while Ferrari’s Lewis Hamilton is third on 229.
George Russell Opens Up About His 2025 Singapore Grand Prix Weekend
George Russell has revealed that he was dealing with “a lot” behind the scenes during the weekend of his 2025 Singapore Grand Prix victory, saying “not many people know” what was happening away from the track. The Mercedes driver spoke to Austrian broadcaster ORF Sport, which showed him photographs of himself celebrating his 2025 win at the Marina Bay Street Circuit with his partner, Carmen Montero Mundt.
Russell told the broadcaster that the weekend had been particularly significant:
“I mean, it was a very special weekend because there was a lot going on behind the scenes that not many people know about.”
When the interviewer asked him to give a hint about what he meant, the Briton declined:
“No, one day.”
Carmen Montero Mundt and the Meaning Behind the Marina Bay Photos
He went on to explain why the images meant so much to him.
“Psychologically, my brain was quite busy,” Russell added. “Then going out, putting it on pole, winning the race was a really special moment and having Carmen there as well.Ā
Advertisement“Why these photos and this moment were so important to me is because she was there through those moments off the track that I was dealing with, so this is the part that people don’t see.”
George Russell, Mercedes
Photo by: Sam Bagnall / Sutton Images via Getty Images
Second Victory and an Earlier Marina Bay Disappointment
Russell’s 2025 Singapore Grand Prix victory was his second win of that season. It also made up for a previous disappointment at Marina Bay Street Circuit, where he had crashed on the final lap while running third in 2023, throwing away a likely podium finish.
The result therefore carried significance beyond the race itself. Alongside the second victory of his 2025 campaign, Russell had the opportunity to celebrate with Carmen Montero Mundt after a weekend in which he was also dealing with matters away from the circuit.
Russell Trails Kimi Antonelli as Lewis Hamilton Remains Third
Russell sits second in the drivers’ standings with 238 points, 102 points behind his Mercedes team-mate Kimi Antonelli. Ferrari’s Lewis Hamilton is third with 229 points.
Speaking during the Azerbaijan Grand Prix weekend, Russell said he would continue pursuing wins and pole positions despite the championship deficit:
“I’m going to keep fighting every single race until it’s mathematically impossible,” Russell told the media during the Azerbaijan Grand Prix weekend.
“It doesn’t change how I go about my job. I want to try and win every single race and put it on pole every single race.
“That’s my goal. That’s what I’m working towards every single weekend and what happens thereafter will be. There’s obviously a huge deficit, but it’s not even a consideration right now. The performance is the biggest priority.
“I don’t think I was really putting pressure on myself before from a championship standpoint. I was putting pressure on myself from a performance perspective. I’m in this position in the championship because the performance hasn’t been strong enough.
“It’s been the case for a while where the pressure has come from trying to improve the performance, rather than thinking I need to fight for this championship because you can only fight for a championship if you’ve got the performance.”
Why This Matters
Russell’s account combines two forms of pressure: personal difficulties away from the track and a 102-point championship deficit to Kimi Antonelli. Although the Mercedes driver has acknowledged the size of the gap, his stated approach remains unchanged. He intends to seek pole position and victory at every race and continue fighting until a championship challenge is mathematically impossible, with performance taking priority over the standings deficit.
The details of the off-track issue remain private. Russell declined to provide even a hint when questioned by ORF Sport, and no further explanation or timetable for disclosure was provided. His comments nevertheless add context to the Singapore victory by showing that the weekend involved challenges that extended beyond his on-track performance at Marina Bay Street Circuit.
Frequently Asked Questions
What was happening behind the scenes for George Russell in Singapore?
Russell said there was “a lot” going on behind the scenes and that “not many people know” about it. When asked for a hint, he declined to elaborate, saying: “No, one day.”
Why were Carmen Montero Mundt and the victory photographs important?
Carmen Montero Mundt was present for the Marina Bay Street Circuit celebration and through the off-track moments Russell was dealing with. He said her presence and those unseen experiences were why the photographs and the victory held such importance.
Where does George Russell stand in the drivers’ championship?
Russell has 238 points and sits second, 102 points behind Mercedes teammate Kimi Antonelli. Ferrari’s Lewis Hamilton is third with 229 points. Russell says he will keep pursuing wins every race until a championship fight becomes mathematically impossible.
