Photo: Mercedes F1
Russell: I never doubted Mercedes would deliver a title-level car
George Russell says he always trusted Mercedes to return to the front, as the team opens the 2026 season with a clear performance advantage and a car capable of fighting for the championship.
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The British driver won the opening race of the year and, despite being beaten by team-mate Kimi Antonelli in China and Japan, remains firmly in the title fight. Mercedes has established an early advantage in both championships, with a strong package built around an effective power unit and well-balanced chassis.
Russell pointed to the overall strength of the car rather than just the engine as the key factor behind the team’s form.
“No doubt the power unit is exceptional, but there are three other teams who have got the same power unit, and we’re clearly a lot faster,” he said, as quoted by PlanetF1.com.
“So, clearly, the chassis is very good, as well as the package. I think there has been a very good job, paired very well, especially around the energy management, where it’s so challenging right now,” the Mercedes driver added.
For Russell, the current position marks a turning point after several seasons without consistently competitive machinery. Since joining Mercedes from Williams in 2022, he has experienced both the team’s struggles under the previous regulations and gradual progress back towards the front. Despite that difficult period, he says his confidence in the team never wavered.
“I never had any doubts. The truth is, Formula 1 is so, so competitive, and unfortunately, we just got it wrong at the start of 2022. We were on the back foot and just struggled to recover that lost time,” Russell explained.
Russell also highlighted the importance of stability within the team, praising the decision to stick with the same core group of engineers and designers through both successful and challenging periods.
“I think something you have to admire Toto (Wolff, team boss]) for is that, when you look at the team today, it’s the same team as the same group of engineers and designers as it was during the glory years, it’s the same group of individuals who were there during the years of struggle, and it’s the same group of people today... I didn’t know it was gonna be 2026, but I always had faith that my time would come,” the British driver concluded.
