‘My team mate has done a better job than me’ – Russell

George Russell admits he faces a difficult task in catching his Mercedes team mate Kimi Antonelli for the 2026 World Championship, acknowledging that the young Italian has simply performed better throughout the season. With Antonelli holding a significant 66-point lead, Russell remains realistic about his title chances, noting that he needs both consistency and luck to close the gap. Following Antonelli's impressive victory in the Italian Grand Prix, where he fought his way from P19 to beat Russell, the British driver praised his teammate's stellar form while reaffirming his commitment to taking every race as it comes. Russell emphasized that he remains focused on securing as many wins as possible for the remainder of the season. As the F1 circus heads to the inaugural Spanish Grand Prix in Madrid, Russell sees the new, challenging circuit as another opportunity to fight for the top spot. While he acknowledged the high-risk nature of the track, he maintains his standard preparation, aiming to navigate the technical, high-speed layout with precision to regain momentum in the championship battle.