Russell posts statement to 'speak from the heart' — SkimNews
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- George Russell posted his first public comments on Instagram on Monday, 2 November 2026, saying "Now feels like a pretty suitable moment to speak from the heart," and conceding the season "very quickly unravelled with tough luck and poor performances" — his first proper season with more bad days than good, adding "2026 was not meant to be my year."
- Toto Wolff revealed Russell was "distraught" in Mexico and went home after congratulating Antonelli on becoming world champion.
- FIA fined Mercedes €5,000 (£4,173) because Russell missed his mandatory post-race media duties.
- Kimi Antonelli became F1's youngest ever world champion at age 20 with four rounds remaining, winning nine races to Russell's three; Russell, the clear pre-season title favourite, dropped to fourth in the Drivers' Championship after a power unit issue left him with sub-optimal power on the opening lap of the Mexico City Grand Prix.
- Mercedes was thanked by Russell for producing "the best car and power unit this season," crediting four tough years to bring the team back to the top, and he promised to give "my absolute all" for the rest of 2026 and into the next season to rediscover his previous performance.
- Sao Paulo hosts the final leg of the triple header with the Brazilian Grand Prix on Sunday, 8 November, where Mercedes can still win the Constructors' Championship.
Why it matters: Antonelli's nine wins seal the Drivers' title with four rounds left, leaving Russell fourth after a Mexico City power unit failure and Mercedes relying on Brazil for the Constructors' Championship. Russell's Instagram apology also sidesteps the regulatory cost of silence: skipping mandatory media drew a €5,000 FIA fine.
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