George Russell reflects on a difficult 2026 season after Kimi Antonelli wins the Drivers’ Championship in Mexico City

By Vancouver Television Sports Desk

George Russell responded to Mercedes teammate Kimi Antonelli’s Drivers’ Championship win in Mexico City with an extended, personal reflection on his own 2026 campaign, posting on Instagram on Monday that the year has been “the first proper season of my career” where he has had more bad days than good. Russell said he had started the season with title ambitions, but that events “quickly unravelled” through “tough luck and poor performances,” describing confusion “at times” as a recurring theme.

The timing of Russell’s message came one day after Antonelli claimed his maiden Drivers’ Championship at the Mexico City Grand Prix, becoming the youngest World Champion in Formula 1 history. Antonelli finished third behind Max Verstappen of Red Bull and Ferrari’s Lewis Hamilton, a result that secured the championship for the Mercedes driver.

Russell’s own Mexico City race reflected the challenges he described in his post. At the Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez, Russell finished sixth after a power-deployment issue on the opening lap cost him positions. The same race then included a collision with Isack Hadjar, which led to a 10-second time penalty.

In his Instagram statement, Russell framed the season in terms of ongoing difficulty and persistence. He wrote: “This season started off exactly how I had hoped but it very quickly unravelled with tough luck and poor performances. It’s been the first proper season of my career where I’ve had more bad days than good.” He added, “Has it been tough to deal with? Yes, very. Has it been tough to pick myself up week in, week out? Yes, very,” before concluding: “All I know is that I’ve given it my all and 2026 was not meant to be my year.”

Russell’s 2026 began with optimism, including a win at the season-opening Australian Grand Prix, but the championship picture shifted as Antonelli established himself at the front. The post also referenced a season marked by problems reaching consistent top performance, which Mercedes has attributed in part to the characteristics of its car under the new regulations.

Alongside the personal assessment, Russell used his message to credit the progress around the team’s championship-winning direction. Earlier in the season, Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff pointed to a “narrow operating window” affecting performance, and Russell highlighted that return to the front with thanks in his Instagram post for Mercedes producing “the best car and power unit this season.”

Russell’s post also made clear he remains supportive of Antonelli despite his own disappointment. He wrote: “I want to sincerely congratulate Kimi on what has been an absolutely incredible season. You truly deserve the Championship.” Russell added gratitude for the team’s work over “four tough years” as Mercedes attempted to “bring Mercedes back to the top.”

With four rounds remaining in the 2026 campaign, Russell said his focus is to close the season strongly before turning to next year, when he and Antonelli are set to continue as Mercedes team mates. Russell concluded his message by promising continued effort to regain form: “Now, all I can promise is that for the rest of this season, and into the next one, I will be giving my absolute all to rediscover the performance I have been capable of producing for the majority of my career and fingers crossed a little bit of luck returns. Thanks for all the support.”