Jolyon Palmer says George Russell isn’t feeling the same pressure Lando Norris did last year
Photo by Mark Sutton - Formula 1/Formula 1 via Getty Images Jolyon Palmer believes George Russell isn’t feeling the same pressure in his title bid that Lando Norris experienced last season. Only three races into the 2026 F1 calendar, Mercedes already look to be in control of the championship, with Russell and Kimi Antonelli setting the early pace. Russell opened the season with a win in Australia but has since seen his teammate take back-to-back victories in China and Japan.
Antonelli now leads the standings by nine points heading into this weekend’s Miami Grand Prix. Russell approaching title fight differently than Norris did, says Palmer Even though Russell is currently behind Antonelli in the standings, former F1 driver Palmer thinks he isn’t feeling any real pressure yet and remains confident. Palmer, who raced for Renault during his career, also drew a comparison between Russell’s approach this year and how Lando Norris handled his title fight last season.
He said on the F1 Nation podcast : “I feel like there is a difference when I look at George compared to Lando last year. I think Lando felt like there was more pressure on his shoulders with just the way he was speaking, the way he was saying he’s not comfortable with the car. “He arrived in China having won in Melbourne, but he was still saying, ‘I’m not feeling the love from the car’.
George is shoulders back, he’s waltzing down the paddock, he is still, you know, the confident air in him. “I think every time he turns up at the moment, he thinks he is going to win. It didn’t happen in Japan but I don’t see yet him having any sort of pressure on his shoulders.
“Of course it must be there but I don’t see him. I don’t see that coming just after one weekend where he’s been categorically outpaced. Maybe it will come in a few races but for now I think he is still confident.