Mercedes junior George Russell believ𝐆es the 2018 Formula 2 field is the strongest in the history of the category, saying that as many as 15 drivers are capable of winning raceꦉs such is the depth of talent on display.

The second F2 season since the GP2 Series was rebranded at the end of 2016 kicked off in Bahrain ✤three weeks ago, with Lando Norri💃s moving into an early championship lead as Russell endured a tough weekend, scoring only 10 points.

Russell and Norris are two of the drivers tipped to contest for top honours in F2 this year, but the Mercedes youngster feels the fight for victorie🐟s will be far more open.

"In qualifying you’ve got four guys within a tenth f☂rom four different team📖s, so that’s quite promising," Russell said.

"From a d✅river’s point of view, personally I believe this is probably the strongest field of F2, GP2, across the range of the drivers, I think the quality is extremely high from probably first to 15th on the grid.

"I think any one of those drivers is capable of winning races at any time. So for all of u🌄s and all of the tea♉ms, it’s going to be a very competitive season."

Norris echoed his rival's comments, believing t🍸hat consis⭕tency will be the key to a good title charge given the level of competition in F2 this year.

"I think there are a lot of drivers who are very strong," Norris said. "In the long 💜run I th🍒ink you need to have good qualifiyings, good results.

"I thi𒆙nk it’s all about consistent, making sure you don’t make any mistakes, you don’t end your race in Turn 1 or anything, even if you have to co🅺ncede a position or two, I think it’s better than to crash basically.

"We have a long way to go, and I think there’s a lot of peopl🔯e who can do well🧸 in the championship.

"We just🍌 need to try and take advantaꦓge of the first race already and go from there."

The F2 season c𒊎ontinues this weekend in Baku, Azerbaijan, with races scheduled for both Saturday and Sunday.