Mercedes driver George Russell says he will take a "deep, deep look in the mirror" after a disappointing 2026 Formula 1 season that saw him finish fourth in the drivers' championship while teammate Kimi Antonelli claimed the title.
Russell, who started the year as championship favourite, won only three races compared to Antonelli's nine. He told media ahead of the Sao Paulo Grand Prix that he and his team had analysed the season and found they had a trouble‑free weekend in only six of the 20 races.
"These issues constantly keep popping up but unfortunately this always seems like it's on my side of the garage," Russell said. "We concluded we've only had six races from the 20 where we've had a clean weekend. So to think 14 of those weekends have had issues is unbelievable."
The Briton's frustrations peaked at the Mexico City Grand Prix, where a power‑unit electrical failure at the start dropped him into a collision with Isack Hadjar's Red Bull, earning a 10‑second penalty and a sixth‑place finish. The result cost him second place in the standings, leaving him behind Antonelli, Max Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton.
Russell admitted he skipped his post‑race media duties because he was "very upset" with how the weekend unfolded, but insisted he remains a professional. Antonelli, meanwhile, said preparation for the 2027 season has already begun.
