The 2026 Formula 1 season has proven to be a demanding campaign for George Russell, as he prepares to see his world championship aspirations mathematically extinguished by his Mercedes teammate. Heading into the Mexico City Grand Prix weekend, the British driver candidly opened up about the major hurdles that have derailed his title charge.
While heartbreaking reliability issues have played a role, the 28-year-old admitted he has largely failed to match Andrea Kimi Antonelli on outright performance throughout the year. Finding himself 123 points adrift in the standings, Russell pointed directly to the 2026 technical regulations as the root cause of his struggles.
According to the Mercedes charger, the new-generation regulations simply clash with his natural driving preferences, specifically regarding mid-corner rotation and throttle application. His tendency to get on the power aggressively early on exit drains the power unit's energy reserves inefficiently under the current rules.
"I think there's just a few factors with the cars this year that potentially favour or hinder a certain driving style," Russell explained. "I’ve always been a driver who focuses on the middle to the exit of the corners, which often means I'm on the throttle earlier than most. With these new power units, that means I'm spending more energy, and it's sometimes not the most efficient way to drive for the power unit."
Adding to his driving woes are the high rear tyre pressures mandated by Pirelli this season, which restrict rear axle stability upon corner exit and further punish his preferred throttle technique.
"Secondly, the tyre pressures this year, especially on the rear, have been very, very high. Pirelli have taken a few PSI margin, especially on the rear axle. Again, that has hindered me a little bit by pushing the exits. The rear tyre can't cope with it as well, and there's been a bit of a hindrance on the power unit side. These two factors have really hampered my natural driving style. I'd say that's probably been the biggest thing this season," he added.
With the championship battle all but decided, Russell's immediate objective for the remaining grands prix is to rediscover lost consistency and finish the year on a high note, focusing on performance execution over final points position.
Read Also
Simak jadwal lengkap FP1 F1 GP Meksiko 2026, debut pembalap muda, dan penentuan gelar juara. Baca analisis mendalam dan update latihan bebas di sini!
Lewis Hamilton beri dukungan moral pada Esteban Ocon yang terdepak dari F1 2026. Simak analisis lengkap dan berita terbaru di sini!
Marc Marquez kuasai hari pertama GP Malaysia di Sepang. Simak analisis performa, strategi ban, dan target 37 poin penuh di sini!
Continue with Google
Discussion (0)
Join the Discussion!
Sign in easily to start commenting, replying, and interacting with other readers.
Latest Comments
No comments yet. Be the first!