Russell says F1 title loss 'tough to deal with'

George Russell has expressed that his challenging 2026 season, while driving for Mercedes alongside title-winning teammate Kimi Antonelli, has been particularly difficult to cope with. The British driver started the season as a favorite and even won the opening race, but soon found himself struggling as Antonelli gained momentum. In an Instagram post, Russell congratulated Antonelli on what he called an "absolutely incredible season" and acknowledged that the Italian truly deserved the championship.

Russell acknowledged that the season began as he had hoped but quickly unraveled due to poor performances and bad days. He admitted that it has been the first proper season in his career where he had more bad days than good. Reflecting on his performance, Russell stated that, "Yes, very. Yes, very." Despite winning three races to Antonelli's nine, Russell finished sixth in the Mexico City Grand Prix on Sunday, falling to fourth place in the championship as Max Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton secured first and second, respectively.

The Mexico race further exemplified Russell's struggles, as a glitch in energy deployment off the start line left him down on power, and he was eventually swamped by the field. A misjudgment led to his colliding with Red Bull's Isaac Hadjar, resulting in a 10-second penalty. Following the race, Russel was weighed and found himself close to tears, overwhelmed by the situation.

Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff visited Russell after the race and acknowledged his distress, offering him a break from media duties. Wolff expressed understanding for Russell's emotional state and the challenging circumstances he faced, emphasizing that Russell had given his all to the team. The Briton concluded by promising to give his "absolute all" to rediscover his previous performance levels and hopes for a bit of luck to return.