George Russell speaks out with an emotional message following Kimi Antonelli's triumph in the F1 championship.
George Russell has conveyed a poignant message after skipping media obligations following the Mexican Grand Prix.
The British driver acknowledged that "2026 was not destined to be my year" in an extensive note to his supporters on social media after his Mercedes teammate Kimi Antonelli secured his first championship at the Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez.
Russell embarked on the 2026 season as a prominent contender for the title. However, following his victories in the season-opening Australian Grand Prix and the Chinese sprint race, he witnessed Antonelli seize the lead in the standings in Japan, progressively widening his lead in the championship.
The 28-year-old's absence from the post-race media engagements seems to have spurred a message to his followers. "Now feels like a fitting time to express my thoughts," he stated.
"This season commenced just as I had envisioned, but it unraveled swiftly with unfortunate luck and subpar performances. It’s been the first genuine season of my career where I’ve faced more challenging days than successful ones.
"What I do know is that I’ve put in my utmost effort, and 2026 was not meant to be my year. I want to wholeheartedly congratulate Kimi on what has been an absolutely remarkable season. You truly deserve the championship.
"I appreciate the team for crafting the best car and power unit this season; it has been uplifting to witness everyone unite over four demanding years to elevate Mercedes back to the forefront.
"Moving forward, I can only promise that for the remainder of this season, and into the next, I will be exerting my absolute best to regain the performance I have been capable of delivering throughout much of my career, and hopefully, a bit of luck returns. Thank you all."
Russell remains in contention for second place in the drivers' championship. Although his sixth-place result in Mexico dropped him from second to fourth, there is still only a 16-point gap between Max Verstappen in second and Charles Leclerc in fifth.
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