Russell sets consistency target as title hopes fade

George Russell has set consistency as his main target for the rest of 2026, with his title hopes all but over. Kimi Antonelli can become F1's youngest champion with ninth place in Mexico City on Sunday. Russell entered the year as favourite but has won in Baku and scored only six points across the last three rounds.

Why it matters:

Russell's fluctuating form has left Mercedes chasing answers in a season where the gap between pole-winning pace and midfield results has been unusually wide. His priority is no longer the title but rebuilding a reliable baseline before 2027.

The details:

• Russell said he has never experienced such performance swings: pole by eight tenths and a win in Baku, then P8 last week.
• He admitted Mercedes does not know why its hit rate has dropped, calling consistency his "priority" for the remaining races.
• Mexico's high altitude could make turbo lag a major factor. Russell expects Ferrari's smaller turbo to be an advantage.
• Antonelli needs only ninth place in Mexico to clinch the title, making Russell's task largely academic.

What's next:

Russell can do little but maximize results while Mercedes searches for answers. A cleaner run in Mexico would help him end a difficult campaign on a high and build momentum for 2027.