Three races into the 2026 season, and Kimi Antonelli and George Russell find themselves in a position many drivers dream of – and just as many mishandle.
Victories are stacking up, Mercedes looks formidable, and the early narrative is already leaning toward a title charge.
But Russell isn’t buying into it. Not yet. Despite his team’s strong start, the Briton is keeping it real.
From Melbourne to Shanghai to Suzuka, Mercedes has stormed out of the gates. Russell opened the campaign with a commanding win in Australia, before rising star Antonelli followed up with a breakthrough victory in China and then another triumph in Japan to seize the championship lead.
Mercedes’ W17 is currently the class of the field ’s performance has turned heads across the paddock. Its power unit advantage has made it the benchmark car—at least for now.
Still, Russell is pushing back against any early coronations.
“Firstly, 100 per cent [the team will] give the same opportunity to the two of us,” Russell told reporters.
“That’s always been the case for Mercedes ever since the Lewis [Hamilton] and [Nico] Rosberg days.
“Of course, I hope it’s just the two of us going for the championship, but I don’t want to get ahead of ourselves.
“In 2022, after three races, I think Leclerc had a 30-plus point lead, and Verstappen was saying the championship is over and Ferrari were the quickest, and then in the end they were not.”
It’s a reminder rooted in recent history: Formula 1 seasons have a habit of twisting when certainty feels highest.
‘Race by race’ mentality
Russell’s tone may be cautious, but it’s not without confidence. He knows Mercedes has built something strong – he just isn’t ready to declare it unbeatable.
“I think we have a very good direction, the correlation is very good,” he said.
“We’re ticking all of the boxes that tell us we have a really great foundation with the car but, of course, these things change.”
That last point lingers. Because while Mercedes has dominated early, challengers are circling.
“We know McLaren has not brought a major update recently, and when you look at their performance in Suzuka, I think [Oscar] Piastri could have won that race without any safety car at all,” he added.
It’s a subtle warning: the gap may not be as comfortable as it looks. And so, despite the wins, the points, and the growing buzz, Russell is deliberately narrowing his focus.
“I’m just taking it race by race. The championship is not even in my mind,” the 28-year-old concluded.
“I just go to every race, try and maximise the performance, and we’ll count the points at the end of the season.”
Read also: Russell reckons performance, not rules, behind Verstappen frustrationFor now, that’s the mindset – measured, controlled, and intentionally grounded.
Because if the opening rounds have shown anything, it’s that Mercedes has the speed. But if Formula 1 history has shown anything, it’s that speed alone rarely settles a championship this early.
And George Russell knows it.
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