Method 1 2026 world championship favorite George Russell is assured Mercedes has produced a robust automobile for the upcoming season – however refused to declare it a possible title contender.
This 12 months F1 will introduce a complete new set of laws with adjustments to each the chassis and energy unit and as the whole lot is new, the pecking order is presently a guessing sport.
However expectations are excessive at Mercedes, contemplating the Silver Arrows dominated the final engine change in 2014 by successful the following eight championships, whereas it additionally loved a robust Barcelona shakedown final week.
It accomplished essentially the most mileage of any staff and Russell’s team-mate Andrea Kimi Antonelli even conducted a full race simulation, inflicting engineering director Andrew Shovlin to assert “I don’t assume we might have hoped for a greater three days of testing”.
This has led to Russell topping the percentages for this 12 months’s title, particularly after his strongest season but in 2025 with fourth within the standings and to many, being one of the best driver behind Max Verstappen.
However he’s nonetheless cautious of his rivals with two official Bahrain exams to come back earlier than the season-opening Australian Grand Prix on 6-8 March.
“Clearly we have solely pushed the automobile for 3 days and it is nonetheless very early days, but it surely does not appear like it is a turd, which is a bonus,” mentioned the five-time grand prix winner on the Mercedes 2026 launch on Monday.
Russell enters his eighth season and appears set to lastly contend for his maiden title
Picture by: Mercedes AMG
“To be sincere, within the early days like this, you recognize when it could possibly be a extremely unhealthy automobile and you may spotlight these negatives early on, we do not consider it’s. However is it a automobile that may produce a world championship? It is nonetheless method too early to see.
“We have been fairly shocked by what we have seen from a few of our rivals, particularly on the Pink Bull energy unit aspect, that appears very spectacular contemplating they are a fully new outfit and dependable as nicely.
“So kudos to them. We have had a really dependable take a look at, however we’ll have to attend and see if the automobile lives as much as the expectation.”
The scenario marks a far cry from 2022 when ground-effect vehicles had been launched for Russell’s debut season at Mercedes, whose dominance was ended with the final rule change.
4 years in the past the German marque produced a really unpredictable automobile which endured huge porpoising and that made it arduous for Mercedes to recuperate, as the following titles went to Pink Bull or McLaren.
However now, Russell believes Mercedes has constructed a pleasant, drivable automobile as he mentioned: “No one anticipated porpoising in ‘22. So you possibly can’t low cost the whole lot proper now. However that is why I feel we left Barcelona with a constructive feeling as a result of the automobile reacted as we anticipated.
“The numbers we’re seeing from the aero on the automobile match what we see again on the simulator, how the automobile is dealing with is matching the way it feels on the simulator. So that is one thing we have not likely skilled since 2021 as a staff.
The no sidepod W13 which ended Mercedes dominance
Picture by: Alessio Morgese
“So we’re kind of ticking the packing containers of the whole lot that we need to tick. However we will not low cost our rivals as a result of, as I mentioned, there was plenty of discuss across the Pink Bull energy unit not being as much as normal 12 months one – from what we have seen up to now, they’ve positively delivered.
“Ferrari energy unit appears to be like dependable. They did numerous laps not far behind us over the course of a take a look at and from an influence unit aspect, Haas did a great deal of laps as nicely with the Ferrari engine. So the reality is that there could possibly be a great struggle on our fingers, however we’re happy with what we have skilled.”
Though the 27-year-old continues to be considerably enjoying down expectations forward of the marketing campaign, Russell does have the boldness of a driver who can lastly take his maiden F1 crown.
When the title favorite tag was put to the Briton, he mentioned: “I did not actually really feel something from listening to that, to be sincere.
“As I’ve mentioned for a very long time, I really feel able to struggle for a world championship and whether or not we’ve got that remark above us or not, that doesn’t change my method one single bit.
“I am working so arduous with the staff. Everyone right here has been working flat out to actually maximise this new set of laws and I am truthfully simply so excited by the problem as a result of it’s a large problem adapting to those new vehicles, how the power administration works, the re-harvesting of the batteries, getting your head across the enhance system, the overtake modes, the lively aero.
“There’s plenty of issues we have to study in a short time, however I really feel I can take benefit from that and I really feel assured with myself and my staff.”
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