George Russell’s victory at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix ended a seven-race winless streak and narrowed the gap to his Mercedes teammate Kimi Antonelli, who leads the 2026 Formula 1 championship. Russell held off a late challenge from Red Bull’s Max Verstappen to claim his third win of the season, cutting Antonelli’s lead from 81 points to 66 with seven or eight races remaining.
Russell described the win as proof that he had “come through the other side” after a “real tough period” during the season. The Mercedes driver’s return to form was clear throughout the weekend in Baku, where he was fastest from the moment he hit the track and dominated qualifying and the race. His strong performance contrasted sharply with Antonelli’s difficult weekend, which the Italian admitted was his “worst weekend of the year in terms of performance.”
Antonelli, who has won eight races this season to Russell’s three, started 16th after a qualifying error left him with a damaged wheel. Despite recovering to fifth place, Antonelli said he “felt always a step behind” and described his mindset as “not in the best place” after the mistake. “I wasn’t really present,” he said, adding that the race was about “damage limitation” rather than full attack.
The contrast between the teammates has been stark this season. Antonelli adapted immediately to the new Mercedes car, which followed the biggest rule changes in F1 history, while Russell struggled to find the car’s rhythm to suit his driving style. Russell acknowledged the challenge, saying he and his engineers had worked hard to adjust his approach and “overcome some of the challenges” presented by the new car.
Russell’s resilience was tested most painfully at the Italian Grand Prix two races ago. Starting from the front row, Russell had a golden opportunity to close the gap to Antonelli, who began 19th due to a grid penalty. Instead, Antonelli produced a remarkable drive to win, while Russell appeared close to tears after the race. The experience only strengthened his resolve, culminating in the Baku victory.
Mercedes deputy team principal Bradley Lord said Russell had gone through “some soul-searching” and “difficult moments” before the summer break but had returned “really strong” and focused on the essentials required to deliver consistently. Russell called the Azerbaijan weekend “the most dominant” of his career, reflecting his renewed confidence and form.
Antonelli’s season remains impressive despite the setback. His eight wins this year have put him in a commanding position, but he acknowledged the need to recover mentally ahead of the Malaysian Grand Prix. “Today was more damage-safe mode instead of full attack,” he said. “I just make sure next weekend we get back in the right level.”
The situation draws parallels with last year’s championship battle between McLaren teammates Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris. Piastri entered Azerbaijan with a strong lead but suffered a meltdown on the streets of Baku, which he later called “the worst race of my career.” That collapse contributed to him losing the championship by season’s end.
Russell’s victory in Baku, combined with Antonelli’s off weekend, offers a glimmer of hope for the Briton, though he remains realistic about the challenge ahead. “My team-mate’s had an incredible season,” Russell said. “He’s been pretty flawless throughout, but now we’re getting to crunch time.” He added that he would focus on delivering strong performances and not overthink the championship battle.
With the season entering its final stretch, the momentum appears to have shifted slightly, but Antonelli’s lead remains substantial. The next race in Malaysia will be an early test of whether Russell can maintain this form and close the gap further.
According to Yahoo Sports.
