Kimi Antonelli Reflects on George Russell's Unlucky 2026 Season

Kimi Antonelli has openly admitted that his Mercedes teammate, George Russell, has endured a bit more bad luck in 2026 than he has. Antonelli clinched his first Drivers’ title with a third-place finish in Mexico, making him the youngest champion in Formula 1 history at just 20 years and 68 days old.

Antonelli Acknowledges Russell's Tough Breaks

Antonelli's triumph, with four races still remaining, defied pre-season predictions that pegged Russell as the favorite, given his previous year’s performance and experience advantage. Russell supported those expectations by winning the season opener in Australia, but Antonelli quickly took control, winning the next five races and maintaining his lead.

To date, Antonelli has notched up nine victories, while Russell has managed three, resulting in a substantial 130-point gap between them. Yet, Antonelli concedes that the points difference has been somewhat amplified by Russell's misfortunes throughout the season.

Russell's challenges included a compromised qualifying in China and recurring battery pack issues, the latest of which affected him in Mexico, causing him to fall from second to fifth on the first lap. Antonelli acknowledged that Russell has faced more technical setbacks, though he also pointed out his own difficulties, such as losing a potential win at Silverstone and a likely second place in Barcelona due to external factors.

"About George, yeah, I mean, definitely I think he has had bad luck at some point in the season," Antonelli remarked. "I think he has had a little bit more than me, being honest."

Despite these setbacks, Antonelli believes Russell will bounce back and challenge for the title again in 2027, after what has been his most challenging season. "Still, I think he will definitely come back," Antonelli predicted. "He’s super quick. He has shown this season that when he’s on it, it’s very hard to beat."

Looking ahead, Antonelli is aware that the competition won't just come from his teammate. "It's not going to be only a matter of George at the end of this season," he said. "I think also for next season, Red Bull, especially with Max [Verstappen], Ferrari, and McLaren, eventually, we’re all going to be up there, and it’s going to be a tight fight."

Antonelli understands the importance of staying at the top of his game, not just against Russell but against the entire field as the competition intensifies.