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During the Mexico City Grand Prix weekend, Andrea Kimi Antonelli officially sealed the 2026 Formula 1 World Championship with Mercedes. Across the garage, however, teammate George Russell was left to watch the Italian's celebrations unfold amid his own difficult run of form.
Since his victory in Azerbaijan, the British driver has failed to finish inside the top five, with a sixth-place result in Mexico marking his best return since then.
After watching Antonelli secure the crown, Russell took to social media to share his first public reaction, admitting that the current campaign has been an uphill struggle.
"Now feels like the right time to speak from the heart. This season started just as I had hoped, but it quickly unraveled through a mix of bad luck and poor performance. This is genuinely the first season in my career where I've had more bad days than good," the British driver shared.
This was Russell's first statement following his young teammate's championship triumph, having skipped his mandatory post-race media duties in Mexico. Mercedes opted to cover his €5,000 fine, with team principal Toto Wolff shedding light on the driver's mindset.
"I saw George after the race at the FIA scales, and he was clearly devastated by the situation," Wolff said.
With four rounds remaining in the 2026 Formula 1 season, Russell will look to close out the year on a high note ahead of another potential title battle with Antonelli in 2027, when the pair will once again line up as Mercedes teammates.
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