Sports · Motorsport · 15 hrs ago
Russell says 2026 has brought more bad days than good
Kimi Antonelli won the 2026 Formula 1 championship with Mercedes at the Mexico Grand Prix, while teammate George Russell watched from the other side of the garage.
Russell said the season began as he hoped but soon turned difficult because of bad luck and poor performances.
He has not finished in the top five since winning in Azerbaijan, with sixth place in Mexico his best result since then.
In a social media post, Russell congratulated Antonelli and said he would work to rediscover his form for the rest of this season and the next.
Russell skipped required media duties after the race, and Mercedes covered the €5,000 fine he received.
Four races remain in 2026, and Russell and Antonelli are set to stay teammates at Mercedes next year, when they could compete for the title.
George Russell said 2026 had been the first proper season of his career with more bad days than good.
The Mercedes driver said the season began as he had hoped but unravelled amid bad luck and poor performances.
Russell missed out on the world championship, which Mercedes team-mate Andrea Kimi Antonelli won at the Mexico City Grand Prix.
Russell congratulated Antonelli and said he would work to rediscover his performance for the rest of the season and into the next one.
Martin Brundle said Russell needed to find an “overdrive” and raise his performance next year.
- Who
- George Russell, the Mercedes driver, described his difficult 2026 season.
- What
- He said it had brought more bad days than good and vowed to rediscover his performance.
- When
- He made the statement after the Mexico City Grand Prix in 2026.
- Where
- Russell posted his statement on social media. The championship was decided at the Mexico City Grand Prix.
- Why
- Russell said the season unravelled amid tough luck and poor performances, and that it had been difficult to deal with.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
Russell said the season began exactly as he had hoped.
Antonelli won the championship, while Russell missed out on the title.
Russell posted that the season had brought more bad days than good and congratulated Antonelli.
- Team
- Mercedes
- Champion
- Andrea Kimi Antonelli
- Race
- Mexico City Grand Prix
- Season
- 2026
- Russell’s description
- More bad days than good
4 sources
Martin Brundle delivers 'game over' warning to F1 star George Russell
Martin Brundle tells “broken” George Russell what he must do after F1 title defeat
Social Media: Russell vows to rediscover his performance after “more bad days than good” in 2026 | Brief
What people are saying
It’s been the first proper season of my career where I’ve had more bad days than good.
All I know is that I’ve given it my all and 2026 was not meant to be my year.
What will hit George hardest is that he couldn't match Antonelli for speed, for consistent speed.
George has either got an overdrive or it's game over.
Posts on X
Now feels like a pretty suitable moment to speak from the heart. 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.
Sorry for the sh*tshow, George.