George Russell opens up about his struggles to perform consistently well in 2026. The Brit was the clear favorite for the title before the season, but has had to give this role to teammate Andrea Kimi Antonelli for some time now. Russell now knows where his problems come from, but still struggles to solve them: ‘It’s like someone asking you to copy the Mona Lisa while the original painting is right next to you’.
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George Russell started the 2026 season as the title favorite. However, the Mercedes driver quickly lost this role to his teammate Andrea Kimi Antonelli, who surprised friend and foe with his winning streak between the Grands Prix of China and Monaco. The young Italian thus became the leader in the drivers’ championship, while Russell struggled more with the W17.
According to the Mercedes driver, the cause of his inconsistent performances this season lies in the fact that he less often manages to get the car into the ideal operating window. “The data is crystal clear and shows exactly where the problem is,” Russell told the media present at Spa-Francorchamps. “If I don’t win or get pole position, I see exactly where it goes wrong and what I need to improve. Last year I was much more often able to get the maximum out of the car, the setup, and the tires. This season that percentage is much lower. I simply get the car into the ideal operating window less often.”
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Mona Lisa
The Brit is then asked why finding the right setup is so difficult when the data clearly shows where the problem lies. “It’s like someone asking you to copy the Mona Lisa while the original painting is right next to you,” Russell compares to the famous painting. “Do you think you can get it perfect right away? Maybe after a lot of practice. With these new engines, tires, and cars, I have to set up the car in a way that actually doesn’t fit my natural driving style. I have to drive like I never have in my entire career.”
The latter is difficult for Russell, he admits honestly. “For twenty years my approach worked excellently. Now it only works about half the time,” the driver continues. “Every weekend I have to decide whether my trusted way of driving is enough, or if I need to adjust my approach. And if so: how do I do that without losing speed?” According to the Brit, this new way of approaching a race weekend goes against his intuition. “When I’m at my best, I drive completely by feel. Then I don’t think about what I’m doing. Now I have to consciously apply new techniques and make sure they eventually become second nature again. That is currently the biggest challenge.”
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