George Russell has returned from the 2026 Formula 1 summer break feeling “more relaxed” as he attempts to claw back into the title fight against Mercedes team-mate Kimi Antonelli.
The championship leader holds a 56-point advantage over third-placed Russell, with Ferrari’s Lewis Hamilton sitting second and 53 behind Antonelli after 11 rounds with 12 remaining.
This weekend’s Dutch Grand Prix marks an opportunity for Russell to stage a late bid and he has done well so far, winning the sprint race from pole while Antonelli only took fourth.
Russell’s advantage continued into Saturday’s qualifying as he took second behind McLaren polesitter Lando Norris, while a frustrated Antonelli is starting third after a mistake at Turn 1.
“I’m just going to take it race by race,” said Russell at Zandvoort. “I’m not going to come away from this weekend and say all issues are resolved.
“I do think I made some big changes going into the Barcelona weekend, and as I said earlier this morning, I had some good races, Barcelona and Austria. Then Silverstone and Spa, we had the PU issue, and Budapest was just not a competitive weekend on my side.
Lando Norris, McLaren, George Russell, Mercedes, Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes
Photo by: Sam Bloxham / LAT Images via Getty Images
“So, I think it just hasn’t been a clean run this season. It has not been a clean season whatsoever with all of the issues that we’ve had. But I just feel, I think after the break, I just feel way more relaxed. I don’t feel like I’ve got anything to lose.
“The pressure’s off. I’m just going to go out, enjoy it, and I don’t even really feel in a fight. It’s not mine to lose, it’s mine to gain. So that’s the mentality I’ve got, and I feel it’s going to help me. I’m just enjoying driving.”
This season has obviously not gone as hoped for Russell, who started the 2026 regulation switch as the heavy title favourite thanks to his Mercedes team expecting to dominate.
But his sophomore team-mate has enjoyed the upper hand thanks to his blistering one-lap pace with six poles, while misfortune has hit both drivers at times during a grand prix.
Russell also previously claimed that these new 2026 cars suit Antonelli’s aggressive driving style, so the 28-year-old has spent much of the year adapting his more smooth approach.
That is why the August summer break came at a good time for the Briton, who used it to continually keep developing - especially when he thinks the title fight is “far from over”.
Lando Norris, McLaren, George Russell, Mercedes
Photo by: Simon Galloway / LAT Images via Getty Images
“Obviously Kimi’s been doing an amazing job this season, and clearly the two of us have quite different driving styles,” added Russell.
“That was apparent last year, and it is really working well for him with this car and these tyres and just trying to implement something similar into my driving style.
“I describe it as if you change your golf swing, you’ll probably take half a step back before making those improvements.
“The break just allowed me to put those learnings into the back of my mind, come here this weekend, not fixating on what I want to try and achieve with the car and the tyres, but knowing in the back of my head what I need to achieve and just drive more freely.
“I’m really, really proud of that because it’s just sort of building that toolbox of experience for me that’s going to allow me to be even better in the years to come.
“Who knows, maybe next year the technique is totally different again. That’s the beauty and challenge of Formula 1. Every year it’s different.”
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Originally published by motorsport.com —
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