George Russell has earned praise for his candid assessment of Kimi Antonelli, who leads his Mercedes teammate by 81 points before the Azerbaijan Grand Prix.
George Russell’s candid assessment of Kimi Antonelli’s 2026 form has earned fresh praise before the Azerbaijan Grand Prix, where the Mercedes teammates will arrive first and second in the Formula 1 drivers’ championship.
The timing adds significance to the admission. Antonelli has scored 292 points through 14 Grands Prix, with Russell second on 211. The 81-point gap comes after the Italian claimed consecutive victories at Monza on September 6 and the Spanish Grand Prix on September 13.
There’s no rumor to unravel. Mercedes’ internal contest is defined by the numbers.
Antonelli has opened the gap with eight wins
Antonelli has won eight of the first 14 races, starting with the Chinese Grand Prix on March 15. Victories in Japan, Miami, Canada and Monaco followed, before he added Belgium and his September double in Italy and Spain.
His most recent victory came by 4.351 seconds over Max Verstappen, while Lando Norris took third, 5.089 seconds behind Antonelli.
Russell has won twice, at the Australian Grand Prix on March 8 and the Austrian Grand Prix on June 28. His season-opening victory was contested over 58 laps, while the race in Austria covered 71.
That leaves a six-win difference.
Both drivers have powered Mercedes to the top of the constructors’ standings. The team has 503 points, giving it a 145-point advantage over Ferrari on 358. McLaren ranks third with 306.
Russell retains second place
Russell’s 211 points put him 20 ahead of Lewis Hamilton, who holds third for Ferrari with 191. Norris is five points further back on 186, while Charles Leclerc has 167.
Russell therefore leads a tight battle behind Antonelli. Hamilton, Norris and Leclerc are separated by 24 points, and Verstappen sits sixth on 145.
Antonelli’s 81-point lead over Russell exceeds the 66-point margin between Russell and Verstappen. Even so, the Mercedes teammates remain first and second as the championship heads toward Round 15.
Russell’s record includes two victories and second place at the British Grand Prix, where Leclerc beat him by 0.427 seconds. He also took second behind Antonelli in China, finishing 5.515 seconds behind his teammate.
Mercedes leads both championships
Antonelli and Russell have delivered 10 wins across 14 Grands Prix. Ferrari has taken two, with Hamilton winning at Barcelona-Catalunya on June 14 and Leclerc triumphing at Silverstone on July 5. Norris secured McLaren’s two victories in Hungary and the Netherlands.
No other driver has won during 2026.
Hamilton’s 191 points place Ferrari’s driver third in the standings, though he trails Antonelli by 101. Norris is 106 points behind the championship leader, while Leclerc’s deficit is 125.
Verstappen has 145 points after his runner-up finish behind Antonelli in Spain. His post-race joke summed up his view of the championship:
“I’m definitely not having a comeback!”
Behind Verstappen, Oscar Piastri is seventh with 120 points and Isack Hadjar holds eighth on 71. Liam Lawson occupies ninth with 59, ahead of Pierre Gasly on 41.
Baku opens the next championship phase
The Azerbaijan Grand Prix takes place from September 24 through September 26. It starts a stretch of three race weekends in rapid succession, with Bahrain set for October 2 through October 4 before Singapore follows from October 9 through October 11.
Another six events follow Singapore. The United States Grand Prix is scheduled for October 23 through October 25, with Mexico and Brazil next. Las Vegas, Qatar and Abu Dhabi close the calendar, and the finale will run from December 4 through December 6.
Baku gives Russell his next chance to reduce an 81-point deficit. Antonelli arrives after winning the previous two Grands Prix, while Mercedes carries a 145-point constructors’ advantage into the opening day on September 24.
The title fight remains within Mercedes
Russell is still Antonelli’s closest challenger in the standings, while Hamilton and Norris fight over third place. Russell’s frank response to his teammate’s form has become the latest talking point, but the competitive order is clear.
Antonelli leads. Russell is chasing.
Practice for the Azerbaijan Grand Prix starts on September 24, followed by qualifying on September 25 and the race on September 26.
