Russell Congratulates Antonelli and Admits 2026 Was Simply Not His Year

George Russell has spoken from the heart about a season that slipped away, congratulating Mercedes team-mate Kimi Antonelli on becoming Formula One's youngest world champion. Russell was excused media duties after Sunday's Mexico City Grand Prix, where he started on the front row before his car suddenly slowed and cost him several places on his way to sixth. Team principal Toto Wolff said afterwards that the team had let the Briton down, and on Monday Russell admitted 2026 had simply not been his year. Russell began the season as the bookmakers' title favourite, the experienced Mercedes driver alongside 20-year-old Antonelli in only his second campaign. Instead, the Italian won nine races to Russell's three and clinched the championship with rounds to spare, becoming his country's first champion in 73 years. Russell said the year started exactly as he had hoped but very quickly unravelled through tough luck and poor performances, calling it the first proper season of his career with more bad days than good. His message to Antonelli was generous and direct: a sincere congratulation on an incredible season, and a promise to give everything to rediscover his best form for the rest of this year and into the next.