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is confident that McLaren aren't breaking any rules, with the Woking-based team coming under the spotlight due to their tyre cooling management. McLaren have stormed to the top of the pecking order in F1, with leading team-mate Lando Norris at the top of the Drivers' Championship standings.

At the end of last year, Red Bull reportedly complained to the FIA after suspecting that some of their rivals were injecting an 'unspecified liquid' into their tyres to keep them cool during races. No wrongdoing was found, with McLaren chief Zak Brown even poking fun at the allegations by that had the words 'tyre water' written across it during free practice ahead of the Miami Grand Prix.

Mercedes boss Toto Wolff backed McLaren over the issue earlier this week when he was asked for his thoughts about it.

And Silver Arrows driver Russell has now had his say on the matter. "I don't believe they are doing anything wrong," the Briton told Sky Sports.

"They have been so dominant for 18 months now, so you have to give them all the credit they deserve and the rest have to improve.

"We have ideas of our own that we can improve on, but that is a long-term process and that is a bit of a shame. But this is Formula 1 - if a team dominates, it's quite a challenge to catch up again."

Russell then assessed McLaren's performances in different weather conditions as he explained: "The probably worst case scenario is what we have seen in China and Japan.

"And what we have seen in the hot races in Bahrain and Miami, that is their best scenario. On their worst day, they are still the best, and on their best day, they are the best. We want to keep improving."

He added: "It is clearly due to the tyre temperature, because they make the step when it is very hot.

"Max Verstappen has also said it once or twice - it's like nine teams are doing something wrong, there's only one team that is doing it really right. So we have to improve."

Piastri has won four of the opening six Grands Prix this season, with Norris clinching victory at the opening race in Australia.

McLaren are already 105 points ahead of Red Bull at the top of the Drivers' Championship standings and have all the momentum ahead of the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix.

Free practice for the race gets underway on Thursday, with drivers enjoying a rare weekend off today and tomorrow before the F1 season moves to Europe.