George Russell has two fewer points after 19 rounds in 2026 than in 2025

George Russell has 250 points after 19 rounds of the 2026 Formula 1 season, two fewer than the 252 he had after 19 rounds in 2025.

The comparison is striking given the expectations around Russell: he began 2026 as the bookmakers’ favourite, and RacingNews365 says Mercedes produced the season’s strongest package. Yet the title went to teammate Kimi Antonelli. After 19 rounds, Antonelli had 380 points, 130 more than Russell, who sat fourth in the standings.

Smaller issues cost Russell positions and points in China and Japan; power-unit failures also struck in Montreal and at the Bahrain Grand Prix in Malaysia. But his season was not simply a run of bad luck: RacingNews365 also points to weekends when Antonelli outperformed him and to Russell’s own mistakes, including in the Singapore sprint. Charles Leclerc was only five points behind Russell after 19 rounds.