Russell targets Americas trend ahead of 2026 title bid

George Russell is determined to break a persistent performance trend across the Americas leg of the calendar as he prepares for a crucial 2026 title campaign. While the Mercedes driver enjoyed a strong 2025 season with multiple victories, he was hampered by a surprising dip in form during the Austin, Mexico, and Brazil triple-header—a statistical anomaly he aims to correct.

Why it matters:

Russell is widely considered a top contender for the 2026 championship, largely due to Mercedes' anticipated strength with the new power unit regulations. However, championship challenges require consistency across all venues. His historical struggles at these specific circuits represent a significant vulnerability that rivals could exploit during the critical final stages of the season.

The details:

• Statistical Weakness: Despite winning his first career race at Interlagos in 2022, Russell has only secured one podium in 18 total visits to Austin, Mexico, and Brazil. His average finishing positions are 8.8 in Austin, 9 in Mexico, and 6.8 in Brazil.
• 2025 Season Split: Russell's 2025 campaign was a tale of two halves. He secured six podiums before the summer break, converting poles into wins in Canada and Singapore. Post-summer, however, his competitiveness waned, and he was notably outperformed by rookie teammate Kimi Antonelli during the Americas leg.
• The "Trend": Russell admits that while he hoped to improve his record at these tracks in 2025, the progress was insufficient. He identifies these circuits as specific weak points in an otherwise strong repertoire, noting that the calendar's timing has often made this stretch challenging for his career.

What's next:

Russell plans to use the upcoming winter break to conduct a "deep dive" into his data to pinpoint the root causes of his performance deficit at these tracks. As Mercedes gears up for a title push in 2026, erasing these inconsistencies will be a primary objective for Russell to maximize the team's potential.