George Russell acknowledges that Kimi Antonelli is "superior" in Formula 1 2026, but states he has finally found "a solution."

George Russell has nearly accepted his slim chances of clinching the 2026 Formula 1 world championship, though he believes he has discovered “an answer” to the difficulties he has faced this season.

The Mercedes racer trails his championship-leading teammate Kimi Antonelli by 66 points with 10 rounds still to go, despite being the pre-season favorite as the new regulations took effect.

Earlier this season in Monaco, amid Antonelli’s impressive five-race winning streak, Russell noted that his smoother driving technique does not align with the 2026 cars as well as the aggressive style of the 20-year-old.

Consequently, the Briton has dedicated much of the year to adapting his approach, showing some improvement after the summer break by outqualifying Antonelli in the last three sessions, yet still lagging behind in race speed.

This was apparent in Monza last weekend, where Antonelli passed Russell—who started in second—to secure a remarkable victory from 19th position, placing him firmly in contention for his first title.

When asked about the reasons behind Antonelli's speed, Russell replied ahead of this weekend’s Madrid race: “I do have an answer and I'm working on it.”

George Russell, Mercedes

“I think I've made significant progress. So I'm very satisfied with the steps I've taken because fundamentally altering driving style is something many drivers can achieve.

“However, being fast with that change is a different issue, and I feel my performance since the summer break has improved; I've qualified ahead of him in the last three qualifying sessions.

“My race pace has been comparable to his in these two races, which wasn’t the case before the break. So, as I mentioned, I’m definitely happy with that progress. We’ll have to see how the remainder of the season unfolds.”

The 28-year-old recognizes that the championship outcome is becoming increasingly clear, a scenario few would have anticipated at the start of the season.

This is largely because Russell arguably had his best season yet in 2025, maximizing the W16 to finish fourth while seventh-placed Antonelli experienced a rollercoaster rookie year.

“I definitely need some luck and I need to perform well,” Russell added. “It's not something I dwell on because, as I said, right now he’s outperforming me.

George Russell, Mercedes

“So he rightfully deserves to be at the top of the championship standings. There’s still a long way to go, but he hasn’t had a bad weekend in terms of performance. He’s competing exceptionally well.

“My performances have improved, but if I want to take this championship, I’m going to need some luck along the way.

“But it’s not something I concentrate on. I’m focused on driving faster and finding more performance.”

Antonelli, on the other hand, isn’t fixated on the championship either, believing his comeback in Italy, where an engine change resulted in a grid penalty, illustrates why he shouldn't get too carried away.

“I don’t even know how many races are left. Eight? Ten? There’s still a long way to go,” Antonelli remarked.

“I don’t want to race with the championship on my mind. Monza showed that I wasn’t concerned with or thinking about the championship; I was just focused on winning and doing my best, and that’s the mindset I want to maintain.

“Of course, there may come a time when I need to consider the championship before making a decision.

“But what I want to avoid is going onto the track for practice, qualifying, or even a race, worrying about the championship. That’s what I aim to steer clear of at all costs!”