Russell Seeks Upgrade to Challenge Antonelli | F1 News

George Russell is sounding the alarm: if he wants to challenge for the 2026 F1 title, Mercedes needs a serious performance upgrade. Currently trailing teen phenom Kimi Antonelli by 25 points, Russell admits his own driving hasn’t been sharp enough this season — despite some luck, like a safety car at Silverstone that gave him a podium. Antonelli, just 19, has already won five of the first nine races, while Russell has only two, and he’s honest: Antonelli’s pace and adaptability to the new regs have been superior. Russell isn’t just focused on his teammate — he’s eyeing Ferrari and Hamilton too, stressing that the whole team must step up. While the gap has narrowed recently due to Antonelli’s misfortunes and Russell’s fortunate timing, Russell insists the true pace speaks for itself: Antonelli would’ve won those races without the setbacks. He’s giving Antonelli his due — this 25-point gap, he says, is a fair reflection of what’s been delivered so far. Listen in comfort:Get a discount on a Soli Pillow: http://solipillow.com/discount/dnn Advertise on DNN:[email protected] This is an automated, high-level news summary based on public reporting.Report issues to [email protected]. View sources & latest updates:https://sources.thednn.ai/9b34f5de0512d038