George Russell’s 2026 season is far below expectations. Initially considered a favorite for the Formula 1 title, the Mercedes driver has won only two of the first 11 races and sees his chances in the Drivers’ Championship quickly diminish after the strong results of his teammate, the Italian Kimi Antonelli.
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In the view of former Formula 1 driver Johnny Herbert, Antonelli’s strong performance and rumors about a possible move of Max Verstappen to Mercedes explain the moment the Briton is going through. In an interview with a betting platform, Herbert stated: “I believe that Kimi Antonelli’s consistency is undoubtedly causing problems for George Russell at the moment. It seems that every time Russell gets in the car, he is completely dominated by Kimi.”
While Russell faces difficulties, Antonelli is having a standout start to the season, with six wins and nine podiums in the first 11 rounds. Herbert also highlighted that the situation is frustrating for Russell, who was considered one of the main title contenders.
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“I know it hasn’t been a perfect season for him. I know luck may not have been on his side, but that’s part of Formula 1. This will be tough for him because everyone, including me, thought this would be George’s year. But that hasn’t happened.”
The former driver believes that the speculations involving Verstappen further increase the pressure on the Mercedes driver: “And there are also the constant rumors about Max Verstappen potentially joining Mercedes in the medium term, which certainly doesn’t help Russell’s mood. George is aware that his seat is under threat,” he concluded.
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