Sports · Motorsport · 1 hr ago
Russell says difficult F1 season will not define his career
George Russell says his difficult 2026 season will not define his career as he prepares for the Mexico City Grand Prix.
The 28-year-old British driver is second in the standings, but Mercedes teammate Kimi Antonelli leads by 123 points and is close to winning the title.
Antonelli, 20, can become Formula 1’s youngest world champion if he meets the required result in Sunday’s race.
Antonelli has won nine races, while Russell has won three, and has been more consistent this season.
Russell says he has struggled to adapt to the demands of this year’s cars and tyres, though he has also had strong performances and some reliability problems.
Russell says the season will make him stronger, and believes he has 12 to 15 years left to compete.
He aims to finish the season well and use what he has learned to challenge again in 2027.
George Russell says the difficult 2026 Formula One season will not define his career or break him.
The 28-year-old Mercedes driver has won three races, compared with nine for teammate Kimi Antonelli.
Antonelli could secure the title at the Mexican Grand Prix and become the youngest world champion in F1 history.
Russell says he will learn from the season and believes he has 12 to 15 years left in the sport.
He is also trying to finish the season strongly and hold on to second place in the championship.
- Who
- George Russell, a Mercedes Formula One driver.
- What
- He says the difficult 2026 season will not define his career and will make him stronger.
- When
- He made the remarks on October 29, 2026, ahead of the Mexican Grand Prix.
- Where
- Mexico City, ahead of the Mexican Grand Prix.
- Why
- Russell says the season has been difficult, with inconsistent performances and fewer wins than teammate Kimi Antonelli.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
Russell won the Australian Grand Prix.
Antonelli took five wins in a row and moved into the championship lead.
Russell took pole position and won the race in Baku.
Russell finished ninth in Singapore and eighth in Austin after his Baku win.
Russell said the season would not define his career ahead of the Mexican Grand Prix.
- Russell's age
- 28
- Russell's wins in 2026
- 3
- Antonelli's wins in 2026
- 9
- Antonelli's age
- 20
- Russell's expected remaining career
- 12 to 15 years
4 sources
What people are saying
this year is absolutely not going to define my career as a whole.
It's not going to break me. If anything, it's going to make me stronger.
I still got a good 12 to 15 years left in me.
For every driver on the grid there is only one position that matters and it is P1.