Russell Relieved It's Not His Fault After Mercedes PU Discovery

George Russell can finally breathe a sigh of relief. After a frustrating first half of the 2026 F1 season, the Mercedes driver admitted a huge weight has been lifted after the team discovered his issues were not down to his driving style, but the power unit.

It has been a tough season for George Russell. Despite Mercedes starting the year looking dominant, teammate Andrea Kimi Antonelli has often outshone him. Russell struggled with straight-line speed, and he began to believe he needed to change his approach.

“It is a huge load off my mind, but also while I’m driving, through Silverstone and the majority of Friday and Saturday at Spa, I think about how I needed to drive to make the power unit fast in the straight,” Russell told media, including Motorsport Week.

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The data pointed to his throttle pick-up, gear usage, and braking style as potential culprits. But after deeper investigation, it turned out the problem lay with the engine. “All of that effort over the course of three sessions, trying to re-optimise my driving around a new technique, was kind of for nothing,” he added.

This relief comes at a crucial time. Russell trails Antonelli by 59 points in the standings, and comparisons with his teammate have haunted him every weekend. Now, with the knowledge that the issue isn't his own, he can refocus on the fundamentals.

“If I focus on the simple things, I know that is when I perform at my best, but we’re not in a simplistic sport, so saying let’s just solely focus on the simple things is easier said than done, sometimes,” the British driver explained.

Ahead of the Dutch Grand Prix at Zandvoort, the intra-team battle at Mercedes will be under the spotlight. With this discovery, Russell hopes to race with more confidence and close the gap. Will this be his turning point? We'll see on track.