George Russell has praised Mercedes teammate Kimi Antonelli for his perfect start to the 2026 Formula 1 season as the pair vie for the drivers' championship. Antonelli leads the standings after back-to-back wins in China and Japan, nine points ahead of Russell. The British driver shared his thoughts during an event in Geneva.
Mercedes has dominated the opening rounds of the 2026 Formula 1 season. Russell secured victory in the Australian Grand Prix and the sprint race in China, but Antonelli responded with wins at the Chinese and Japanese Grands Prix. This internal battle has intensified the fight for the title within the team. Antonelli now tops the drivers' standings as the youngest driver ever to do so, holding a nine-point lead over Russell in second place. Ferrari's Charles Leclerc sits third, followed by Lewis Hamilton in fourth. Speaking at the Watches and Wonders 2026 event in Geneva alongside IWC Schaffhausen, after the launch of the Pilot’s Venturer Vertical Drive, Russell said: “Yeah, it's great having Kimi as my team-mate. Of course, an incredibly quick driver, and he's shown that ever since we've been team-mates throughout last year. This has been an incredibly perfect start to the year for him. And I'm looking forward to trying to fight again with him in the upcoming races.” Russell, 28, reflected on his own early career: “I remember when I was 19 years old and pursuing a dream, which I'm still pursuing today, which is to become a Formula 1 world champion.”
