George Russell has returned from the 2026 Formulation 1 summer time break feeling “extra relaxed” as he makes an attempt to claw again into the title battle in opposition to Mercedes team-mate Kimi Antonelli.
The championship chief holds a 56-point benefit over third-placed Russell, with Ferrari’s Lewis Hamilton sitting second and 53 behind Antonelli after 11 rounds with 12 remaining.
This weekend’s Dutch Grand Prix marks a chance for Russell to stage a late bid and he has finished properly to date, successful the dash race from pole whereas Antonelli solely took fourth.
Russell’s benefit continued into Saturday’s qualifying as he took second behind McLaren polesitter Lando Norris, whereas a pissed off Antonelli is beginning third after a mistake at Flip 1.
“I’m simply going to take it race by race,” stated Russell at Zandvoort. “I’m not going to come back away from this weekend and say all points are resolved.
“I do assume I made some large adjustments going into the Barcelona weekend, and as I stated earlier this morning, I had some good races, Barcelona and Austria. Then Silverstone and Spa, we had the PU situation, and Budapest was simply not a aggressive weekend on my aspect.
Lando Norris, McLaren, George Russell, Mercedes, Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes
Photograph by: Sam Bloxham / LAT Pictures through Getty Pictures
“So, I believe it simply hasn’t been a clear run this season. It has not been a clear season in anyway with all the points that we’ve had. However I simply really feel, I believe after the break, I simply really feel far more relaxed. I don’t really feel like I’ve obtained something to lose.
“The strain’s off. I’m simply going to exit, take pleasure in it, and I don’t even actually really feel in a battle. It’s not mine to lose, it’s mine to realize. In order that’s the mentality I’ve obtained, and I really feel it’s going to assist me. I’m simply having fun with driving.”
This season has clearly not gone as hoped for Russell, who began the 2026 regulation swap because the heavy title favorite because of his Mercedes workforce anticipating to dominate.
However his sophomore team-mate has loved the higher hand because of his blistering one-lap tempo with six poles, whereas misfortune has hit each drivers at occasions throughout a grand prix.
Russell additionally beforehand claimed that these new 2026 vehicles go well with Antonelli’s aggressive driving type, so the 28-year-old has spent a lot of the yr adapting his extra clean strategy.
That’s the reason the August summer time break got here at a great time for the Briton, who used it to repeatedly preserve growing – particularly when he thinks the title battle is “removed from over”.
Lando Norris, McLaren, George Russell, Mercedes
Photograph by: Simon Galloway / LAT Pictures through Getty Pictures
“Clearly Kimi’s been doing an incredible job this season, and clearly the 2 of us have fairly totally different driving types,” added Russell.
“That was obvious final yr, and it’s actually working properly for him with this automotive and these tyres and simply attempting to implement one thing related into my driving type.
“I describe it as should you change your golf swing, you’ll most likely take half a step again earlier than making these enhancements.
“The break simply allowed me to place these learnings into the again of my thoughts, come right here this weekend, not fixating on what I wish to try to obtain with the automotive and the tyres, however realizing at the back of my head what I want to attain and simply drive extra freely.
“I’m actually, actually pleased with that as a result of it’s simply kind of constructing that toolbox of expertise for me that’s going to permit me to be even higher within the years to come back.
“Who is aware of, possibly subsequent yr the approach is completely totally different once more. That’s the sweetness and problem of Formulation 1. Yearly it’s totally different.”
Learn Additionally:
Pictures from Dutch GP – Saturday
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