Mercedes driver George Russell says he maintained confidence despite a series of setbacks early in the 2026 Formula 1 season. He spoke about his experiences during an appearance on the New Silver Arrows Radio Show.
Russell won the season-opening Australian Grand Prix and the Chinese sprint race. His teenage teammate Kimi Antonelli took the championship lead after several races.
The 28-year-old described mixed results that followed. He finished fourth in Japan after a safety car affected his strategy and placed fourth again in Miami. In Canada he led the Grand Prix before a battery failure ended his race. A pitlane speeding penalty led to a 12th-place finish in Monaco.
Russell later finished second in Barcelona and returned to the podium in Austria. At the British Grand Prix he recovered from a slow puncture to take second place.
Reflecting on the season so far, Russell said the results produced strange emotions. He noted that seasons often turn around and that he did not lose faith when things went against him early on.
