George Russell was left pissed off by the dangerous luck he has not too long ago endured after dropping his Components 1 championship lead on the Japanese Grand Prix.
The Mercedes driver loved the proper begin to 2026 by profitable the Melbourne opener and Shanghai dash, however team-mate Kimi Antonelli has since taken a nine-point benefit following victories on the Chinese language and Japanese grands prix.
It’s not as a result of Antonelli is that a lot faster than Russell although, as he gained from pole in Shanghai partly as a result of Briton struggling a gearbox downside in Q3.
Antonelli then took pole once more at Suzuka in one other Mercedes 1-2, however that occurred after a set-up change backfired for Russell who made a “huge” entrance wing adjustment mid-session.
The issues continued on Sunday: Antonelli dropped to sixth at race begin, however inherited the lead by making his solely pitstop in the course of the lap 23 security automobile after Oliver Bearman’s crash.
Learn Additionally:
Russell had made his tyre change only one lap prior and, till the intervention, seemed set to battle Oscar Piastri for victory earlier than in the end ending fourth for his first non-podium of 2026.
“In racing, typically it goes for you, typically it goes towards you,” mentioned Russell. “It simply appears like in the meanwhile, within the final two weekends, it is like each situation we’re having, it is on my facet and I am the one kind of going by way of that ache.”
George Russell, Mercedes, Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes
Photograph by: Simon Galloway / LAT Photographs by way of Getty Photographs
Requested to clarify why, he responded: “Simply the way it’s turned out. I am unable to actually offer you extra of a solution to that. It is like, typically individuals have issues in apply, we have not had a single situation in apply this complete season, I’ve had the issues in qualifying.
“Lando hasn’t had any issues in qualifying, he is had all the issues in apply. So, it is simply luck of the draw with these new automobiles. It is race three of twenty-two, I am not involved in any respect with what’s [going] on right here and I do know I’ve bought what it takes to kind of bounce again.”
Russell isn’t involved by Antonelli taking the championship lead forward of spherical 4 in Miami on 1-3 Might; Bahrain and Saudi Arabia have been scheduled for April, however cancelled as a result of ongoing battle within the Center East.
Requested whether or not the title momentum has shifted, Russell mentioned: “No, by no means. It is three races down in 22 and one lap totally different as we speak, the victory would have been on my facet and I am very assured of that.
“In China, with out the qualifying situation, I used to be three tenths forward in dash qualifying, so possibly I might have been on pole there and gained that race.
“So, it is simply the way it seems, that is racing. We’re now at a four-week break, so there is no momentum to be carried. Reset and go once more for the following race.”
Photographs from Japanese GP – Sunday
Japanese GP – Sunday, in pictures
Japanese GP – Sunday, in pictures
Japanese GP – Sunday, in pictures
Japanese GP – Sunday, in pictures
Japanese GP – Sunday, in pictures
Japanese GP – Sunday, in pictures
Japanese GP – Sunday, in pictures
Japanese GP – Sunday, in pictures
Japanese GP – Sunday, in pictures
Japanese GP – Sunday, in pictures
Japanese GP – Sunday, in pictures
Japanese GP – Sunday, in pictures
Japanese GP – Sunday, in pictures
Japanese GP – Sunday, in pictures
Japanese GP – Sunday, in pictures
Japanese GP – Sunday, in pictures
Japanese GP – Sunday, in pictures
Japanese GP – Sunday, in pictures
Japanese GP – Sunday, in pictures
Japanese GP – Sunday, in pictures
Japanese GP – Sunday, in pictures
Japanese GP – Sunday, in pictures
Japanese GP – Sunday, in pictures
Japanese GP – Sunday, in pictures
Japanese GP – Sunday, in pictures
Japanese GP – Sunday, in pictures
Japanese GP – Sunday, in pictures
Japanese GP – Sunday, in pictures
Japanese GP – Sunday, in pictures
Japanese GP – Sunday, in pictures
Japanese GP – Sunday, in pictures
Japanese GP – Sunday, in pictures
Japanese GP – Sunday, in pictures
Japanese GP – Sunday, in pictures
Japanese GP – Sunday, in pictures
Japanese GP – Sunday, in pictures
Japanese GP – Sunday, in pictures
Japanese GP – Sunday, in pictures
Japanese GP – Sunday, in pictures
Japanese GP – Sunday, in pictures
Japanese GP – Sunday, in pictures
Japanese GP – Sunday, in pictures
Japanese GP – Sunday, in pictures
Japanese GP – Sunday, in pictures
Japanese GP – Sunday, in pictures
Japanese GP – Sunday, in pictures
Japanese GP – Sunday, in pictures
Japanese GP – Sunday, in pictures
Japanese GP – Sunday, in pictures
Japanese GP – Sunday, in pictures
Japanese GP – Sunday, in pictures
Japanese GP – Sunday, in pictures
Japanese GP – Sunday, in pictures
Japanese GP – Sunday, in pictures
Japanese GP – Sunday, in pictures
Japanese GP – Sunday, in pictures
Japanese GP – Sunday, in pictures
Japanese GP – Sunday, in pictures
Japanese GP – Sunday, in pictures
Learn Additionally:
We wish your opinion!
What would you prefer to see on Motorsport.com?
– The Motorsport.com Staff
