George Russell Warns Rivals After Mercedes' 'Humiliation'

George Russell has declared the 2026 Mercedes W17 "feels more like a race car," issuing a warning to his title rivals by contrasting it with the team's "humiliation" during the last major rule change in 2022. The British driver expressed feeling "at one" with the new machine following its shakedown test in Barcelona, where Mercedes completed a mammoth 502 laps.

Why it matters:

Mercedes' ability to bounce back from the catastrophic failure of its 2022 'zero-pod' concept is a pivotal storyline for the new regulations. After plummeting from Constructors' champions to a single-win season, a strong start under the 2026 rules is critical for the team's credibility and morale. With the new era heavily focused on advanced power units—a domain where Mercedes historically excelled—their early confidence signals a potential return to the sharp end of the grid.

The details:

• Team Principal Toto Wolff framed the 2022 season as a "humiliation," a sentiment Russell echoed when describing the previous car as "unnatural" and "very challenging to drive."
• Russell's initial feedback on the W17 is overwhelmingly positive, stating it feels "closer to what F1 should be" and that he feels integrated with the car.
• He humorously referenced Wolff's own assessment, noting the new car "doesn't look like a turd, which is a bonus" in the early development phase.
• Despite the optimism, Russell injected a note of caution, acknowledging it's "way too early" to tell if the W17 is a true championship-contending car, emphasizing the need to see if it "lives up to the expectation."

What's next:

The true test begins with pre-season testing and the opening races, where Mercedes' performance relative to rivals like Red Bull and the new-look Ferrari will be scrutinized. Russell's warning hinges on the team translating this promising initial feel into genuine lap time. If the W17's race car characteristics translate to consistent performance, Mercedes could swiftly re-establish itself as a dominant force, making the 2022 season a distant memory.