Upbeat Russell learns from Miami and looks forward to Canadian GP
British Formula One driver George Russell of Mercedes team speaks during the media day at the Circuit de Gilles-Villeneuve in Montreal, ahead of the 2026 Canadian Formula One Grand Prix. Bradley Collyer/PA Wire/dpa George Russell insists his biggest competition is himself as he bids to keep pace with young team-mate Kimi Antonelli in the title race. Mercedes have hit the ground running under Formula One’s new regulations and have won the opening four races of the season.
Russell, 28, was widely expected to take control of the championship and an opening victory in Melbourne only added to that view. But Antonelli, only 19 and in his second season in F1, has won the last three races and heads into the Canadian Grand Prix this weekend 20 points clear of the British driver. Montreal is a race Russell enjoys, unlike last time out in Miami where he finished only fourth, and won from pole last year.
That adds to the expectation on him this weekend but he says his only focus is his own performance. “At the moment, I see my competitor as myself because I know if I tick all of my boxes, I can beat anybody,” Russell said. “Miami can happen and I know my struggles at a track like Miami.
“At the moment, I’m just really focused on getting the most out of myself and my team and the rest just sorts itself out. That’s the approach I’ve always had. “Nothing really changes for me because it’s still such early days and I know how to deal with it.
It’s not the first time in my career that I’ve had a bad race or two, but in this sport it does change so quickly. “One weekend you have a tough race and the next weekend you come back and everything goes back to normal. I’m in a good place because I think I’ve come away from Miami – I learnt more in Miami than I learned in the first three races of the season.