Russell: 2026 season 'tough to deal with' after title loss — SkimNews
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- George Russell said his 2026 season was 'tough to deal with' and marked by confusion, poor performances, and bad luck, despite starting as title favorite and winning the first race
- Kimi Antonelli won nine races and secured the 2026 F1 drivers' championship, earning praise from Russell and recognition for outperforming his teammate despite being a rookie
- Russell finished sixth in the Mexico City Grand Prix after a poor start due to an energy deployment glitch and a collision with Isack Hadjar, resulting in a 10-second penalty
- Toto Wolff allowed Russell to skip post-race media duties after seeing him distraught on the FIA scales, calling it a 'great show of sportsmanship' that Russell congratulated Antonelli
- Antonelli acknowledged Russell's bad luck and speed, stating he must keep improving to stay ahead amid expected competition from Red Bull, Ferrari, and McLaren in 2027
Why it matters: Russell’s public admission of struggle and emotional toll—paired with Wolff excusing him from media duties—signals a rare moment of vulnerability at Mercedes, where internal dynamics now shift around a rookie champion and a senior driver facing performance decline. The team’s future competitiveness hinges on balancing those roles without fracturing morale.
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