Russell assesses title push amid Mercedes car concerns

George Russell is second in the 2026 standings on 154 points after Austria, but Formula1.com and RaceFans reported he is still not fully at ease with Mercedes.

George Russell moved to second in the 2026 drivers’ championship on 154 points after his Austrian Grand Prix win, but questions remain over his comfort with the Mercedes. Formula1.com reported that team principal Toto Wolff said Russell was still not fully “gelling” with the car, while RaceFans reported that Russell said after Silverstone he was still struggling to understand it.

BBC Sport and Autosport reported that Russell took pole and won in Austria, his second victory of the season. BBC Sport also reported that the way he managed that win should boost his confidence, while Formula1.com said Jolyon Palmer had highlighted Russell’s difficulty in extracting performance consistently as a problem in the title fight.

Russell, 28, has seven Formula 1 wins from 161 starts. Lewis Hamilton is third in the standings on 147 points for Ferrari, while Max Verstappen is seventh on 76.