– Mercedes driver George Russell started the 2026 Formula 1 season as one of the biggest favorites for the world championship title, but after his opening win in Melbourne, he experienced a difficult phase from which he could only free himself again with his triumph at the Austrian Grand Prix.
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But why did the 28-year-old Brit, who is actually considered a talented racing driver, struggle so much in the first races of the year? Russell draws an unusual comparison: “Imagine someone asks you to paint the Mona Lisa, and you have the original right next to you – do you think you would get it perfect immediately?”
“Maybe with some practice,” says the Mercedes driver, explaining that he first had to get used to the new conditions: “With these new power units, the new tires, and the new cars, I have to set up the vehicle in a way that actually doesn’t fit my driving style.”
Teammate and championship leader Kimi Antonelli apparently coped much better with this. “I have to apply a driving style that I have never needed in my entire career so far,” Russell adds. “I have to adjust to it. And I know exactly what to do.”
George Russell has to “internalize new techniques”
However, implementing this is difficult when you have driven successfully in a certain way for 20 years, which suddenly only works in 50 percent of cases. “You have to recognize: Does my usual approach work this weekend? Or do I have to adjust my approach?”
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“When I [previously] delivered my best performances, it usually happened intuitively, almost subconsciously,” Russell looks back on previous years. “I didn’t consciously think about driving. But now I have to think and try to internalize these new techniques so that they also become second nature.”
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“That is exactly the challenge,” explains the seven-time Grand Prix winner. “The good thing is: I have never returned from a weekend – not even difficult ones – clueless about the pace; the data has always shown that very clearly.”
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Sometimes it was even so obvious, Russell reveals, that his chief engineer almost spoke of a vehicle problem. “I have experienced in the past with other drivers or former teammates that you often scratch your head and don’t understand why you are not fast enough.”
George Russell admits: “Success rate significantly lower”
“I, on the other hand, know exactly why I don’t win or am not on pole position,” emphasizes the Mercedes driver, because “the data clearly shows the reasons and what I have to do to improve. And when I am on pole, it is also clear why.”
So Russell has by no means forgotten how to drive overnight. “It’s simply about bringing the car into the optimal operating window. Last year I had a very high success rate in getting the full potential out of the car, the setup, and the tires together with my engineers.”
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But under the new regulations, the current second in the championship struggles with exactly that. “This year, this rate is significantly lower,” recalls Russell, who has only won two of the first nine races so far. “And that is exactly what I am working on: achieving more consistency.” The image of the Mona Lisa seems to become more perfect with every race …
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