Fifth on the grid, George Russell acknowledges his difficulties on a tricky track. A rare admission that says a lot before the race.
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Fifth after qualifying for the 2026 Miami Grand Prix, George Russell did not look for excuses. The Mercedes driver gave a frank analysis of his performance, clearly pointing out his limits on a very specific type of circuit.
The Briton indeed admits not being comfortable on low-grip tracks, a category in which he places Miami without hesitation: “I struggle on low grip circuits, here, Zandvoort, Brazil. It was already the case last year, it’s something I want to work on.”
A driving style out of sync
Russell explains these difficulties by his natural driving style, more based on precision and smoothness than on managing constant slides.
“I am a fairly smooth and precise driver, that has always been my style. On these circuits, you have to accept that the car slides” he details.
In hot conditions and with a low-grip asphalt, as is the case in Miami, the car becomes unstable, making exploiting its potential much more delicate: “I like being on the limit, but here you are constantly oversteering, understeering.”
A still fragile dynamic
Beyond the track, Russell also admits not being in the best phase of his season. A lack of rhythm that complicates his adaptation even more.
“I’m not really in a good rhythm right now. It’s still early in the season, and it’s a really difficult circuit for me” he confides.
Despite this observation, the Mercedes driver keeps a clear guideline: to improve on his weaknesses and wait for more favorable circuits to fully express his potential.
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No question of enduring the race
Despite these difficulties, Russell refuses to adopt a defensive approach for the race. He intends to seize every opportunity, especially in a context where starts and weather could upset the hierarchy.
“I’m not thinking about damage limitation, I’m going to go for maximizing the result. We saw with the starts that everything can change in the first few hundred meters.”
An offensive mindset that could prove rewarding in an uncertain race.
Toto Wolff supports his driver
On his side, Toto Wolff wanted to defend his driver, while confirming this specific difficulty. The Mercedes boss even compares this situation to a surface contrast in another sport: “It’s a bit like a tennis player who is good on clay and another on hard court.”
Despite everything, Wolff retains the positive: “Thanks to qualifying, he managed to climb back up and he just lacks a little something for third place.”
Between lucidity and ambition, Russell therefore approaches the race with a mix of caution and determination. On a circuit that does not suit him, the Briton knows he will have to surpass himself.
But in an unpredictable Formula 1, especially in Miami, acknowledging his weaknesses could well be… his greatest strength.
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