Russell still believes he can fight for his first F1 title in 2027

George Russell has not abandoned his first Formula 1 title ambition: he says he still believes he can fight for it in 2027, despite admitting that he was mentally broken. “Mental resilience is what 2026 has taught me,” the Mercedes driver said.

Russell began 2026 as a major favourite, particularly after his victory in Australia. Starting with the Chinese Grand Prix, teammate Kimi Antonelli won five races in a row and was much stronger overall. Russell also faced repeated bad luck.

Russell says the engine will change in 2027 and the tyres will change slightly. He said his career has brought him more good years than bad, and cited Lewis Hamilton as a driver who has experienced difficult seasons alongside many successful ones. The key after a hard year, Russell said, is to keep faith and courage and find a way back to a positive spiral.