Russell gets just 2.7% backing in 2026 F1 runner-up poll

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Archive photograph: George Russell · Chinese Grand Prix qualifying, Shanghai 2026 · 2026-03-14Archive photo · 2026-03-14 · Liauzh · CC BY 4.0

Only 2.7% of RacingNews365 poll respondents picked Russell to finish second in the 2026 drivers’ championship, despite his holding second place at the time.

From the GPBeat newsroomPublished · 02 Nov 2026, 09:03 · 1 min

Only 2.7% of respondents to a RacingNews365 poll chose George Russell to finish second in the 2026 Formula 1 drivers’ championship, even though he held second place in the standings at the time. The question asked readers to name the runner-up behind championship leader Kimi Antonelli.

At the time of the report, five rounds remained after the United States Grand Prix, where Russell finished eighth and teammate Antonelli won. Russell had 242 points, one ahead of Lewis Hamilton and six ahead of Max Verstappen.

Verstappen led the poll with 60.3%, followed by Hamilton at 30.1% and Charles Leclerc at 6.9%. Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri received no votes.

Sources 01