– George Russell himself no longer really believes in his chance of winning the 2026 World Championship. “I won’t say it’s over, but it is extremely unlikely that I am in this fight,” he said after the recent Formula 1 race in Madrid.
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The Briton is now 81 points behind his Mercedes teammate Kimi Antonelli in the World Championship, which is why expert Ralf Schumacher explains in the Backstage Boxengasse podcast from Sky: “I think George Russell is now number 2.”
Russell now has to “hope that the update or next year’s car suits his driving style a bit better,” says Schumacher, who explains that the 28-year-old is currently “totally unsettled.” He therefore has to stay calm and “wait,” emphasizes the expert.
Because he does not have to worry about his place at Mercedes despite his current crisis – on the contrary. “He would have to do a lot wrong for that,” says Schumacher, who compares Russell’s situation to that of Valtteri Bottas a few years ago.
Photo gallery: Madrid: The driver ratings from Marc Surer and the editorial team
Between 2017 and 2021, the Finn drove five seasons alongside Lewis Hamilton at Mercedes, and Schumacher explains that there have already been “many number 2 drivers” like Bottas in Formula 1, “who have been with a team for a very, very long time.”
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According to Schumacher, these drivers are characterized by the fact that they “can win races” when the number 1 driver has a problem. “George can do that if Kimi had a problem now,” the expert is sure.
Russell therefore has “a very good future” at Mercedes, Schumacher is sure. The six-time Grand Prix winner also reminds: “If the World Championship gets close again, of course Kimi Antonelli will also need a good […] ‘wingman’.”
George Russell himself will probably not see himself in this role. According to Schumacher, however, it would be helpful to accept his fate for the time being – at least temporarily.
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