Russell Adopts 'Abnormal' Driving Style for Austrian GP Win

George Russell secured his second win of the 2026 season in Austria with an unorthodox driving style, conceding he is still struggling to gel with Mercedes' radically overhauled challenger. Despite converting pole under pressure from Max Verstappen, Russell acknowledged his usual approach would have failed at the Red Bull Ring, forcing him to adapt on the fly to manage tyres in the heat.

Why it matters:

The victory offers psychological relief after a string of defeats to teammate Kimi Antonelli and a power unit failure in Canada. With Antonelli finishing third, Russell trails by 40 points heading into Silverstone, keeping his title hopes alive. The result confirms Mercedes has a race-winning package, but Russell must still extract its full potential.

The details:

• Russell lacks confidence in aligning car, set-up, and tyres, describing his 2026 campaign as "so up and down."
• He drove "very differently and quite abnormally" after the team identified historical trends exacerbated by the new regulations.
• The win follows a crucial Barcelona pole, with Russell calling the past two weekends "vitally important" after a mid-season low point.
• Unlike last year, when he understood tyre management across all conditions, Russell admitted he is "rebuilding" that knowledge from scratch.

What's next:

Russell heads to Silverstone seeking to sustain momentum against a teammate who has set a formidable weekly benchmark. He must continue unlocking the Mercedes' potential while rediscovering the tyre mastery that defined previous campaigns. The British Grand Prix offers a chance to erode Antonelli's lead and prove his Austrian breakthrough is more than a one-off.