Despite a season full of obstacles and a significant delay in the championship, George Russell assures he has never lost confidence. The Mercedes driver refuses to be disturbed by criticism.
Read more Red Bull is said to have paid 8 million euros to Helmut Marko to buy his silence
Announced as one of the main favorites for the world title before the start of the 2026 season, George Russell is ultimately experiencing a much more complicated campaign than expected. While the Briton had perfectly started his season with a commanding victory at the Australian Grand Prix, the rest proved much more difficult.
Between reliability issues, lack of performance, and bad luck, the Mercedes driver now trails his teammate Kimi Antonelli by 59 points. However, Russell claims he has never doubted his level.
“I focus only on what makes me faster”
Facing criticism appearing in the media and on social networks, Russell explains he has chosen not to be influenced by the outside noise.
“What helps me is to focus only on the things that can make me go faster.”
The Briton assures he pays very little attention to negative comments.
“Reading criticism in the media or on social networks, or getting frustrated because of certain questions, it brings me nothing. All my energy must be dedicated to myself, my team, and how we can improve.”
According to him, this approach allows him to get through difficult moments without losing confidence.
“I think I am very resilient to all this outside noise. This year, I have had ups and downs, sometimes really tough moments, but I have always kept my confidence.”
“The problem comes from the car, not me”
Russell is convinced that his difficulties are not related to his driving.
For him, when results are not there, the explanation mainly lies with the car.
Read more Aston Martin finally praised in F1: «They can no longer be criticized»
“When I am not performing, I know something is not working properly on the car, not in my driving.”
The Mercedes driver thus dismisses any idea of a drop in level.
“I haven’t forgotten how to drive overnight. I know I can come to the next race and immediately find my best level again.”
A comparison with football
George Russell believes that Formula 1 is a much more unpredictable sport than many other disciplines.
To illustrate his point, he compares the situation to that of a football player.
“A confident footballer generally stays in form for several weeks. Conversely, when going through a bad period, it often lasts as well.”
In Formula 1, the reality is quite different.
“One weekend, you are considered a superstar. The next, you seem to have disappeared, then you come back to the forefront before having another tough race.”
For Russell, this instability is explained by the fact that conditions constantly change.
“To take the football example again, it’s as if the pitch and the ball were different every week. That’s why I prefer to focus only on the elements I can control.”
Despite his championship delay, George Russell remains convinced that he still has the level necessary to play leading roles. His goal now is to turn this regained confidence into results during the second half of the season.
Read more Verstappen names the best driver of the season (and it’s not him)