George Russell has returned to winning ways, and he wants everyone to know he finally feels comfortable in the car. After dominating Baku to claim his first victory in seven races and the first Grand Slam of his Formula 1 career, the Briton told reporters he no longer feels “lost” in the cockpit of the Mercedes W17.
Russell’s win in Azerbaijan reduced the championship gap to Kimi Antonelli by 15 points, and he is optimistic that a long-awaited upgrade at the Bahrain Grand Prix in Malaysia will push him even closer to the title lead. The upgrade is the team’s first significant update since the Canadian Grand Prix in late May, and Russell believes it could be a game-changer on the circuits that have been most difficult for Mercedes this season.
Russell’s Win in Baku
Russell’s weekend in Baku was a statement. He led every lap from pole position, set the fastest lap, and secured his first win in seven races. The performance was notable enough that Russell described it as a moment of clarity about his relationship with the car.
“As I’ve really said this whole season, firstly I never really felt in a position to fight for the victories because I didn’t feel that the performances were strong enough.”
But now, finally, he feels capable of competing for wins week in, week out.
“For any driver fighting for your world championship there’s a lot of pressure,” Russell said. “At this point of the season it is his to lose so, from my side, I’m just going to go out there and enjoy every race.”
The Upgrade and Its Size
The upgrade package for the W17 is Mercedes’ first significant update since the Canadian Grand Prix in late May. That gap between upgrades is unusual for the sport, and Russell acknowledged as much.
“It’s a good step,” he said. “We think it’s a good step purely because it’s been so long since we last brought some upgrades.”
Russell compared the upgrade to a normal season’s trajectory. In a typical campaign, teams bring updates steadily throughout the year, but Mercedes had gone nearly five months without a major package. That makes the step look larger than it would in a standard season.
Antonelli’s Response
Antonelli, the championship leader, has not been dismissive of Russell’s resurgence. After finishing only fifth at the last race, the 20-year-old Italian admitted that the events of last weekend had taught him valuable lessons.
“Last weekend was probably the worst weekend from me, from my side, of the season,” said Antonelli.
But he framed the weekend positively, calling it a valuable learning experience. His performance in Baku, where he started 16th on the grid and drove cautiously, was one of the things he took away.
“It was also a very strange race for me in Baku [from 16th on the grid] because it was one of those races where I consciously tried not to take any risk and just drive under the limit, which was very weird but it was a good and what I needed,” he said.
Antonelli also joked about his own driving, saying he had driven like his grandmother. On Thursday, he quipped: “My grandmother went back home! I booked her a flight and she’s back in Italy!”
He praised Russell’s weekend in Baku, calling it “incredible,” and acknowledged that Russell has momentum heading into the next round.
The Championship Picture
Antonelli holds a 66-point lead in the Drivers’ Championship, the joint-second highest he has held this season. The gap has grown despite Russell’s win in Baku, which reduced the deficit by 15 points.
The championship is still wide open, though. Russell is optimistic that the remaining third of the season can see him close the gap further.
“There’s a third of the season to go and still so much can happen,” he said.
Russell has finished behind Antonelli in each of the previous three races, but his performances in the W17 have been improving since the August summer break. He said his confidence is growing again, and he doesn’t feel lost anymore.
What Changed for Russell
Russell credited a conscious adjustment in his driving for the improved feeling. He said he had been working through several races to find the right approach, but now it is more intuitive.
“It’s definitely been a conscious adjustment of my driving,” he explained.
“I think I went through a few races when I was having to think how to make those adjustment, whereas now it’s all a bit more intuitive and natural.”
Russell said the adjustments he set out to make in terms of getting the car in a slightly better window are now coming naturally to him, so he can focus on driving fast.
Pressure on Antonelli
Russell made it clear that all the pressure is on Antonelli in the chase for the Drivers’ Championship over the closing two months of the season.
“For sure there’s a lot of pressure in his position,” added Russell. “For any driver fighting for your world championship there’s a lot of pressure. At this point of the season it is his to lose so, from my side, I’m just going to go out there and enjoy every race.”
The Track in Malaysia
Sepang International Circuit is the venue for the next grand prix, and neither Russell nor Antonelli has driven there before. That lack of familiarity adds an element of uncertainty to the weekend.
Russell is optimistic that the upgrade will help him on circuits that have been more challenging for Mercedes in recent races. The Malaysian track is one of those circuits, and Russell hopes the package can propel him back to the front.
The Road Ahead
The Bahrain Grand Prix in Malaysia gets underway with Friday’s practice sessions at 5.30am and 9am, live on Sky Sports F1. The race itself will determine whether Russell can secure back-to-back wins for the first time in his F1 career.
Russell’s mood is positive, and he is enjoying the car more than he has recently. The upgrade is a wildcard, and the track is untested for both drivers.
| Driver | Position | Recent Result | Championship Gap |
|---|---|---|---|
| Russell | Baku winner | Reduced gap by 15 points | Behind Antonelli |
| Antonelli | Fifth at last race | 66-point lead | Ahead of Russell |
The stage is set for an exciting weekend in Malaysia. Russell is confident, Antonelli is cautious, and the upgrade is the wild card that could change everything.
Source material: “Russell reveals his Mercedes upgrade hope in Antonelli title chase,” Sky Sports.
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