Russell on how 2026 has ‘tested my character and resilience’

Mercedes driver George Russell has admitted that his team mate Kimi Antonelli's inevitable march to the 2026 Drivers' Championship is "a matter of when, not if." Following a strong start to the season, Russell's title ambitions faded due to car incompatibility, reliability issues, and rival upgrades, though he claimed victories in Austria and Azerbaijan. Reflecting on a season that "tested my character and resilience," Russell explained how he overcame setbacks and focused on controlling what he could rather than giving up. Both Russell and Antonelli are set to remain with Mercedes for the 2027 season, with the Briton confident that the lessons learned from this challenging year will make him stronger for the future.