George Russell Says Confidence Is Back as He Targets More F1 Victories

Posted : 03 October 2026

George Russell says his confidence has returned and continues to grow as he targets more victories in the 2026 Formula 1 season. The Mercedes driver believes he has finally adapted to the team's car and is now capable of challenging for wins consistently.

Russell secured his third victory of the season at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix in Baku on September 26. The win ended a three-month wait for another triumph and reduced his championship deficit to teammate Kimi Antonelli to 66 points, with eight races remaining at the time of his comments.

Speaking ahead of the Bahrain Grand Prix, which has been relocated to Malaysia's Sepang International Circuit because of the conflict in the Middle East, Russell explained how improvements in his understanding of the car had changed his performances.

"The thing that's changed is I feel my performances are strong enough to fight for victory week in week out," Russell said.

"I know what I need from the car and myself and I don't really feel lost any more."

The British driver added that his confidence was returning and that driving the Mercedes had started to feel more natural again after a difficult period earlier in the season.

Russell began the campaign among the championship contenders but struggled to adapt to Mercedes' 2026 car under the sport's new technical regulations. Antonelli took advantage of his teammate's difficulties and established an early lead in the standings.

The 28-year-old said he had consciously adjusted his driving style to find a better operating window for the car. Those changes initially required considerable concentration, but he now feels capable of making the necessary adjustments instinctively.

Mercedes also introduced a major upgrade package for the Malaysian race. The team expected McLaren to provide a strong challenge at Sepang because the circuit's flowing layout could suit the reigning constructors' champions.

Russell remained focused on improving his performances rather than allowing the championship deficit to dictate his approach.

"Of course there is a big deficit in the championship, but there is a third of a season to go and still so much can happen," he said.

"I am just going to go race by race."

Russell's teammate Antonelli, meanwhile, endured a difficult weekend in Azerbaijan. The Italian crashed during qualifying and started the race from 16th on the grid before recovering to finish fifth.

Antonelli described the weekend as his most challenging of the season. He explained that he deliberately avoided unnecessary risks during the race to secure a clean result after a disrupted qualifying session.

Despite the setback, the championship leader emphasized the importance of learning from the experience and maintaining his focus for the remaining rounds.

In another major development ahead of the Malaysian race, Lewis Hamilton publicly backed Ferrari team principal Frédéric Vasseur amid speculation about his position. Hamilton described Vasseur as the right person to lead the team and warned that replacing him could disrupt Ferrari's progress.

The seven-time world champion highlighted Ferrari's improvement after a difficult 2025 campaign. Ferrari finished fourth in the constructors' standings last season but had moved into second place in 2026, with Hamilton and Charles Leclerc each securing race victories.

Hamilton also pointed to Ferrari's reported engine performance deficit compared with Mercedes and Red Bull. He credited the team's factory personnel for improving the car and stressed that sustained development would be necessary to challenge consistently for championships.

George Russell Says Confidence Is Back as He Targets More F1 Victories

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