Russell says F1 title loss 'tough to deal with'

George Russell says the way his season "unravelled" while Mercedes team-mate Kimi Antonelli marched to the title have been "tough to deal with". Russell congratulated Antonelli after the Italian clinched the F1 title on Sunday George Russell says his struggles in 2026 while Mercedes team-mate Kimi Antonelli marched to the drivers' title have been "tough to deal with" and had left him "often confused". Russell started the season as favourite and won the first race, but soon started to struggle as Antonelli built up unstoppable momentum. In a post on Instagram, the Briton congratulated Antonelli "on what has been an absolutely incredible season" and said the Italian "truly deserved the championship".

Russell added: "Now feels like a pretty suitable moment to speak from the heart. "This season started off exactly how I had hoped but it very quickly unravelled with tough luck and poor performances. "It's been the first proper season of my career where I've had more bad days than good. "Has it been tough to pick myself up week in, week out? Yes, very. "All I know is that I've given it my all and 2026 was not meant to be my year." Russell has won three races to Antonelli's nine, and finishing sixth in the Mexico City Grand Prix on Sunday while Max Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton