Martin Brundle: The Title Race Is Far From Over

Pulse Sports Team 11:57 - 02 October 2026

Former Formula 1 driver and current pundit Martin Brundle has shared his thoughts on George Russell's victory in Baku and the significance of the upcoming back-to-back race weekends in Malaysia and Singapore. The Briton is confident that Russell can successfully fight his way back into championship contention against Mercedes teammate Andrea Kimi Antonelli, who currently holds a 66-point advantage.

"Antonelli has demonstrated exceptional, once-in-a-generation talent," Brundle explained. "In my view, that hasn't had a negative impact on George—it has only built his character. I think Russell can shift into a higher gear and take the fight to him, though perhaps even he didn't expect this, or hadn't realised just how much harder he would have to push. I think Baku was clear evidence of that."

"George remained completely focused on his target, even after seeing his 10-second lead wiped out by the safety car, before having to battle Max Verstappen in the closing stages of the race."

"It was one of Russell's most important wins in Formula 1, but I don't expect Antonelli's difficult weekend to shake his confidence. There are still many races left to run in demanding conditions—Malaysia, Singapore, and Brazil are clear examples. There are plenty of challenges ahead, and the title race is far from decided."