George Russell's nightmare F1 season explained as Kimi Antonelli closes in on world title

Until this season, George Russell long-enjoyed a period as Mercedes’s next big thing, the heir to Lewis Hamilton’s throne as its team leader.

Nurtured by the Silver Arrows through the junior ranks and then backmaker Williams, Russell was more than a match for Hamilton across their three years together and then blew away young Kimi Antonelli in their first campaign as team-mates.

Just as Russell finally got his hands on a winning car in 2026 though, Antonelli has risen to the fight and is almost certain to win his first F1 title. The Brit’s season has been nothing short of atrocious by comparison, saying “We’re not in the fight” prior to this weekend’s US GP in Austin. We analyse below where it all went wrong.

George Russell’s horror 2026 season unpicked

2026 Japanese GP - Strategy misfortune plays against Russell

After winning the season-opening Australian GP in some style, then finishing second to Antonelli in China, Japan looked like it could be another strong result for Russell.

After falling down the order at the start, he fought back to second behind McLaren’s Oscar Piastri early on, with Antonelli squabbling over third with the Ferrari of Charles Leclerc.

Piastri made his sole pitstop on 17, before Russell followed three laps later. Then, it all went wrong.

Ollie Bearman lost control of his Haas and crashed at the hairpin, bringing out the Safety Car. This allowed Antonelli, by now ahead of Leclerc, to nip in for his tyre change and then back out again without losing the lead, while Russell found himself relegated to fourth.

2026 Canadian GP - Mercedes gremlins reserved for its Brit

After a lacklustre Miami GP saw Russell finish fourth while Antonelli won again, the Mercedes star looked to make amends in Montreal.

The Brit has always been strong in Canada and, after winning the Sprint, he found himself on pole for the main event.

What followed was classic F1, as Antonelli and Russell then went wheel-to-wheel, lap-after-lap in the opening exchanges.

By lap 30 though, it was all over, a battery issue putting Russell out while leading.

“Disbelief,” said a disheartened Russell after the race. “It feels like somebody doesn't want me to fight or compete for this championship.

“Three out of the last five races there's just been something really going against us. [I’m] just a bit lost for words right now.”

Read more: 2026 United States GP predictions - First-corner chaos, Antonelli title wait, Verstappen wins

2026 Monaco GP - More misery on the streets of Monte Carlo

There was no winner’s luck with Russell in Monaco either.

Starting sixth while Antonelli took yet another pole, the British ace found himself slapped with a pitlane speeding penalty during the race - and then another one for crossing the pitlane exit line.

He would eventually be classified 12th, while Antonelli clocked up another victory.

“I’m flat. I’m beyond frustration,” said Russell. “I’m in a state of struggling to comprehend what is going on”

2026 Belgian GP - Yet another breakdown

After a brace of runner-up finishes and a win in Austrian - another one of Russell’s favourite tracks - it wouldn’t be long before the Mercedes man was brought back down to earth once again.

Qualifying fourth in Belgium after watching his team-mate Antonelli rack up his latest pole, things would get even worse in the race.

Russell barely managed a lap before losing electrical power into La Source, being overtaken by both Ferraris.

Russell fought back but ended up banging wheels with Lewis Hamilton in the process, sending the Mercedes spinning off into the gravel at Les Combes.

Russell said he was “numb to the disappointment” by this point. "When it happens so often you just get used to ‌it," ⁠he added.

Read more: How Max Verstappen can still win the F1 world title as breathtaking scenario emerges

2026 Bahrain GP - Powerless to avoid another retirement

After being left out to dry by Mercedes on a one-stop strategy in Monza while Antonelli roared past to take a sensational win, then coming home only fifth in Madrid, Russell rallied in Baku to score his third victory of the season.

However, at any point the Silver Arrows star has built up momentum this season, it seems fate has other ideas.

The Brit looked set for some strong points while running third in the Bahrain GP at Sepang, but saw himself eliminated through an engine failure.

2026 Singapore GP - Hopes of a win ends in the barriers

Russell had long been in damage-limitation mode by the time the F1 circus rolled into Singapore, and it seemed a Sprint win, having taken an early lead, could lift the mood.

Not so: in treacherous wet conditions, the Mercedes spun on the start/finish straight on lap two, finishing his race against the armco.

“Story of the season,” he pithily summarised after finishing ninth in the GP.

George Russell reflects on a tough year while his team-mate goes for championship glory

The British ace still has a chance of mathematically taking the title but, if Antonelli wins in Austin and Russell finishes ninth or worse, the Italian would be crowned champion.

Knowing the Brit’s luck this year, don’t count it out. Russell himself isn’t filled with optimism.

“We're not in the fight, so if it's this weekend, next weekend, it's a matter of when, not if, he clinches it,” Russell said of Antonelli in Texas.

“That's the reality of the fact, and for me, it has been a very unique season.

“It's tested my character and resilience a lot, having to look at myself in the mirror numerous times and think: ‘How do I want to bounce back from these blows?’

“Do I just want to give up and accept the misfortune or the poor performances, or do I want to try and rectify it and make the most of it and and control everything I can control - and, I can at least be proud of myself that I've always put up a fight, and I've always done my utmost to keep myself in the fight.”