4-time Formulation 1 champion Sebastian Vettel has backed George Russell for the 2026 drivers’ championship title.
The 2026 F1 season brings in a brand new set of laws that can successfully reset the order of the grid, which means as pre-season testing nears its finish in Bahrain, the standard testing caveats stay and the ultimate pecking order nonetheless eludes us.
Whereas weighing up which drivers may take the drivers’ title in 2026, Vettel argued that Mercedes was “not a nasty selection” and that McLaren, which makes use of a Mercedes energy unit, has finished properly lately and should not be missed.
“On the one hand, based mostly on what might be seen up to now, it’s most likely not a nasty option to tip Mercedes,” Vettel defined throughout an look on Sport und Speak aus dem Hangar-7 on ServusTV.
“However fairly intentionally, McLaren additionally runs Mercedes engines, they usually haven’t finished a nasty job lately.
“Nevertheless, I’d choose George, as a result of I take into account him very clever, as a result of I understand how exhausting he works on himself, and since I feel he’s good sufficient to grasp what he personally can contribute as a driver to make the distinction.
“There are a number of drivers within the area who can do this, however within the present scenario my intestine feeling can be that George, along with Mercedes, will succeed finest this 12 months.”
George Russell, Mercedes
Picture by: Anni Graf – Formulation 1 by way of Getty Pictures
Russell, speaking in direction of the top of pre-season testing, defined that he’s centered on “leaving Bahrain within the strongest doable place” because the workforce works by a busy last day on the Bahrain Worldwide Circuit.
“After a strong opening day yesterday, we had extra productive operating in Bahrain this morning,” the Briton mentioned in a press launch from Mercedes. “As soon as once more, our programme wasn’t essentially centered on discovering pure efficiency however understanding our updates and extra in regards to the W17. We have been ready to try this while finishing probably the most laps of anybody within the morning session.
“We now have one last day on observe earlier than we head to Melbourne. While we have now made up for the misplaced operating in take a look at one, we nonetheless have a really full programme to work by tomorrow.
“I’m trying ahead to getting again out within the automobile within the afternoon and centered on serving to the workforce go away Bahrain within the strongest doable place. We’ve seen some spectacular single lap work and lengthy runs from our rivals but once more at the moment so including to our mileage on Friday is essential.”
Photographs from Bahrain Pre-Season Testing – Day 6
Bahrain Pre-Season Testing Day 6, in pictures
Bahrain Pre-Season Testing Day 6, in pictures
Bahrain Pre-Season Testing Day 6, in pictures
Bahrain Pre-Season Testing Day 6, in pictures
Bahrain Pre-Season Testing Day 6, in pictures
Bahrain Pre-Season Testing Day 6, in pictures
Bahrain Pre-Season Testing Day 6, in pictures
Bahrain Pre-Season Testing Day 6, in pictures
Bahrain Pre-Season Testing Day 6, in pictures
Bahrain Pre-Season Testing Day 6, in pictures
Bahrain Pre-Season Testing Day 6, in pictures
Bahrain Pre-Season Testing Day 6, in pictures
Bahrain Pre-Season Testing Day 6, in pictures
Bahrain Pre-Season Testing Day 6, in pictures
Bahrain Pre-Season Testing Day 6, in pictures
Bahrain Pre-Season Testing Day 6, in pictures
Bahrain Pre-Season Testing Day 6, in pictures
Bahrain Pre-Season Testing Day 6, in pictures
Bahrain Pre-Season Testing Day 6, in pictures
Bahrain Pre-Season Testing Day 6, in pictures
Bahrain Pre-Season Testing Day 6, in pictures
Bahrain Pre-Season Testing Day 6, in pictures
Bahrain Pre-Season Testing Day 6, in pictures
Bahrain Pre-Season Testing Day 6, in pictures
Bahrain Pre-Season Testing Day 6, in pictures
Bahrain Pre-Season Testing Day 6, in pictures
Bahrain Pre-Season Testing Day 6, in pictures
Bahrain Pre-Season Testing Day 6, in pictures
Bahrain Pre-Season Testing Day 6, in pictures
Bahrain Pre-Season Testing Day 6, in pictures
Bahrain Pre-Season Testing Day 6, in pictures
Bahrain Pre-Season Testing Day 6, in pictures
Bahrain Pre-Season Testing Day 6, in pictures
Bahrain Pre-Season Testing Day 6, in pictures
Bahrain Pre-Season Testing Day 6, in pictures
Bahrain Pre-Season Testing Day 6, in pictures
Bahrain Pre-Season Testing Day 6, in pictures
Bahrain Pre-Season Testing Day 6, in pictures
Bahrain Pre-Season Testing Day 6, in pictures
Bahrain Pre-Season Testing Day 6, in pictures
Bahrain Pre-Season Testing Day 6, in pictures
Bahrain Pre-Season Testing Day 6, in pictures
Bahrain Pre-Season Testing Day 6, in pictures
Bahrain Pre-Season Testing Day 6, in pictures
Bahrain Pre-Season Testing Day 6, in pictures
Bahrain Pre-Season Testing Day 6, in pictures
Bahrain Pre-Season Testing Day 6, in pictures
Bahrain Pre-Season Testing Day 6, in pictures
Bahrain Pre-Season Testing Day 6, in pictures
Bahrain Pre-Season Testing Day 6, in pictures
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