How Russell is surprising himself in title race – and the positives of F1’s new rules

At the start of the 2026 season, George Russell trails Mercedes teammate Kimi Antonelli by nine points in the drivers’ championship. The 28-year-old, who joined the team in 2022, is now competing for his first chance at the Formula 1 world title. This moment, which he anticipated arriving earlier, has brought an unexpected sense of familiarity and confidence.

Russell’s journey to this point has been marked by a mix of triumphs and challenges. His motorsport roots trace back to karting, where he first raced over two decades ago. On Wednesday, the British driver opened Silverstone’s new karting facility, a place that symbolizes his early dreams. He had imagined this stage sooner, but the reality of the 2026 campaign has arrived with a different rhythm.

Russell’s rise to prominence began with a standout stint at Williams, where he became a rising star. His breakthrough came during Mercedes’ eight consecutive championship runs, a period that coincided with Lewis Hamilton’s dramatic title battle against Max Verstappen. When Russell joined Mercedes, the expectation was clear: he would challenge Hamilton at the front of the grid. Yet, the team’s performance dipped, and now, with a resurgence, Russell finds himself back in the championship spotlight.

Despite the competition, Russell maintains a focused approach. “I was a bit surprised about that myself,” he explains. “I’m just going about my process day to day. Every time I get in a race car, I don’t think about the big picture, which is winning the championship.” His mindset is to concentrate on immediate tasks, such as qualifying and race strategy, rather than overarching goals. “How am I going to drive the fastest lap possible for the race? How am I going to get the best race start, the best race? Trying to stand on the top step (of the podium) and just go about my business like that.”

“Of course I know that we’re in this fight, but it’s not something that I’m even thinking about. Because I know to win the championship, you’ve just got to go through those processes.”

Russell’s philosophy is rooted in consistency, a trait he developed early. He recalls how his father instilled a fighting spirit during karting championships as a 10-year-old. “I’ve been in this position before, not in Formula 1, but as a kid in all those various championships. I knew what it took to win them at the time.” The stakes are higher now, but the core principles remain unchanged.

His season has been a mix of highs and lows. Russell secured pole and victory in Australia, then repeated the feat in China. However, a technical hiccup in the second race allowed Antonelli, a 19-year-old rookie, to claim pole and a win. In Japan, a safety car disrupted the dynamics, pushing Antonelli further ahead while Russell settled for fourth. These events have shifted the championship balance, but Russell remains unshaken.

Mercedes’ dominance this year has created a unique dynamic. “At the moment, we’re just battling against one another,” Russell notes. Last year, a gap of just a few tenths often meant several cars separating drivers. Now, with the team’s revival, the competition feels tighter and more intense. “There is definitely a slightly different intensity,” he acknowledges, though he insists the mindset is natural.

Russell’s ability to adapt to F1’s evolving rules has been a key factor in his performance. The new regulations, which have reshaped the sport, have presented challenges and opportunities. His experience from lower tiers—winning the 2014 BRDC Formula 4 Championship at 16, then titles in GP3 and F2—has prepared him for this stage. “When I was in F4 fighting for the championship, that was the biggest thing in my life, same in F3. That felt like F1 to me at the time.” This perspective has allowed him to approach the 2026 season with the same determination.