George Russell is now “exceptionally unlikely” to win the 2026 Method 1 title, having been crushed by Mercedes team-mate Kimi Antonelli for a fifth consecutive time on the Spanish Grand Prix.
Russell certified a lowly sixth at F1’s new Madring observe, explaining he “tried pushing exhausting in Flip 11” however “the tyres couldn’t take it”.
Learn Additionally:
He and Oscar Piastri made contact firstly of the race, with the Briton seemingly unscathed, however he got here off worse with the early digital security automobile as he switched from exhausting tyres to mediums, whereas most of his rivals obtained to maneuver from softs or mediums to hards at a super time.
“Simply very irritating timing with the protection automobile,” Russell stated. “We had been hoping to make it to lap 40, we knew Kimi and the drivers on the medium and the smooth would pit round lap 15, and the protection automobile got here at lap 14, so…”
Solely two of the 12 drivers who began on hards did pit underneath VSC, Russell and Fernando Alonso; the previous ended up pitting once more to change again to his most well-liked exhausting compound.
Charles Leclerc, who was proper forward of the Mercedes within the early a part of the race, stayed out and pitted on lap 48. He nonetheless got here underneath strain from the Mercedes late on, regardless of the Silver Arrow’s further pitstop and the brand new smooth tyres on the Ferrari. Leclerc narrowly salvaged fourth, with Russell fifth.
“The exhausting was by far my most superior tyre,” the Briton defined. “It will have been an enormous gamble to have stayed out on the medium. I assumed I had nothing to lose. In the long run, I feel I might have ended up the place I ended up anyway. So, a little bit of a disgrace. Very robust observe to overhaul, which was a bit annoying, I suppose, for everybody.”
George Russell, Mercedes
Picture by: Sam Bagnall / Sutton Photos by way of Getty Photos
Nonetheless, Russell insisted that “the efficiency was much better than the outcome” in Madrid. “However this was sort of Monaco-esque, by way of qualifying being every part,” he added.
In the meantime, Antonelli took his eighth victory of the season and his twelfth podium end in 14 grands prix. The Italian sophomore’s championship lead over Russell has ballooned from 25 to 81 factors over the newest 5 rounds.
Russell is painfully conscious that the teenager’s consistency is leaving him with little leeway to meaningfully cut back the hole within the title race, with – theoretically – 9 rounds remaining.
“I am not going to say it is over, nevertheless it’s exceptionally unlikely that I am on this battle,” the 28-year-old admitted. “I am not even desirous about being within the battle as a result of I do not suppose I’m within the battle. It virtually simply permits me to focus race by race and simply try to win as many as attainable. What might be, might be, however… Yeah, that is the place we’re proper now.”
Pictures from F1 Spanish GP – Sunday
Learn Additionally:
We wish your opinion!
What would you prefer to see on Motorsport.com?
– The Motorsport.com Workforce
