George Russell lower Kimi Antonelli’s championship lead from 81 factors to 66 on the Azerbaijan Grand Prix, bringing him again into the title race dialog after he had dominated himself out of it. Can the Briton construct on that swing on the Bahrain Grand Prix and past, and develop into a real contender as soon as extra? F1.com runs by means of the elements working in his favour…
Loads of factors nonetheless to play for
As issues stand, there are eight rounds remaining within the 2026 F1 season – together with a Dash weekend on the Singapore Grand Prix.
It implies that the utmost general factors rating nonetheless accessible is 208, which might be achieved by a driver successful each Grand Prix in addition to the Dash.
Heading to the Sepang Worldwide Circuit, Antonelli sits on the prime of the Drivers’ Championship standings on 302 factors, with Russell – as talked about – 66 adrift on a complete of 236.
On paper, this leaves loads of time and alternative for Russell to show the tables with a late-season cost, although the Briton would wish to outscore his Italian counterpart by a mean of 8.25 factors per spherical (earlier than factoring in victory and different outcomes countback).
A component hanging over Russell is that he seems to be set to take a grid penalty for brand spanking new energy unit elements at one of many remaining rounds – one thing Antonelli bought out of the way in which forward of his beautiful P19-P1 cost at Monza.
Russell’s bought historical past at upcoming tracks
With victory in Baku, Russell now has eight Grand Prix wins to his title. Three of these had been achieved at tracks nonetheless to come back on the 2026 schedule, and are thought to be a few of his finest drives within the sport up to now.
In 2022, Russell earned his maiden triumph on the Sao Paulo Grand Prix, impressively sustaining late-race stress from seven-time World Champion group mate Lewis Hamilton, and in 2024, he dominated from begin to end across the streets of Las Vegas.
Then, in 2025, Russell earned redemption on the Singapore Grand Prix (after a painful last-lap crash in 2023) with a very satisfying pole position-to-victory efficiency, after which Mercedes group boss Toto Wolff praised his “formidable” degree.
We’re, in fact, beneath a distinct set of laws, with driver and automobile kind fluctuating throughout every season, however Russell not less than has some good recollections to lean into as he approaches this decisive part of the marketing campaign.
Why Russell “seems like myself once more”
On the subject of laws, Russell has spoken overtly about his struggles to get probably the most out of F1’s new technology of vehicles, with overhauled aerodynamics, revised energy models and varied driver-controlled modes all being launched.
It began so effectively with pole and victory on the season opener in Australia, however after that, Russell went by means of intervals of confusion and frustration, in addition to struggling his fair proportion of misfortune, all whereas group mate Antonelli stormed to poles and wins.
Because the summer season break, Russell seems to have made some progress, as he pointed to in Azerbaijan, the place he took pole place by greater than eight tenths of a second, and saved a charging Max Verstappen at bay for his first win since June.
“I’m very happy with the resilience that I and my shut group of engineers have proven through the robust intervals this 12 months, as a result of there’s been a number of laborious work to beat a number of the challenges, to adapt my driving model to go well with this new automobile higher,” mentioned Russell.
“F1 is so robust, you don’t get alternatives to follow this, and eventually it’s coming to me a bit extra intuitively than it as soon as did, and I’m gaining confidence. Particularly on circuits like this, it simply lets you eke out that little bit extra on the brakes, and get that little bit nearer to the partitions, and it’s been a flawless weekend.”
He continued: “I feel I by no means misplaced that religion in myself. Even by means of the robust moments, I knew there was a cause why I used to be off the tempo. It wasn’t like I simply instantly forgot how you can drive, and I knew I might be capable of discover it once more. I simply needed to be affected person.”
Driving with the stress off
Antonelli is clearly favorite to seal the 2026 drivers’ title over the remaining sequence of races given his 66-point buffer, which might enable him to take the following two race weekends off and nonetheless maintain not less than an eight-point benefit.
A crash throughout Q1 in Baku marked one of many teen’s few errors of the season, nonetheless, with Russell commenting afterwards that “there’s a lot much less stress on me than there may be him” as the ultimate flyaway occasions tick by.
Requested how he’s approaching the run-in, because the hunter moderately than the hunted, Russell replied: “Win each race. I imply, that’s the sport plan. My group mate’s had an unbelievable season, he’s been fairly flawless all through, however now we’re attending to crunch time.”
He added: “I didn’t actually think about myself on this struggle for a variety of races, purely as a result of my efficiency wasn’t sturdy sufficient. If the season had been to have began as we speak, or for the reason that summer season break, I really feel very a lot I might have been in a position to struggle.
“Now I’ve bought this huge deficit. It could change shortly, so I’m not chasing that. I’m chasing to win each race, and what will probably be, will probably be.”
