George Russell Reflects on Baku Victory: “It would have been very easy for me to lose the faith”

George Russell’s Baku victory restores Mercedes momentum

George Russell’s victory in Saturday’s Azerbaijan Grand Prix was more than a statistic for the Mercedes driver. By leading every lap on the wind-swept streets of Baku, Russell completed the first grand slam of his Formula 1 career and secured his third win of the 2026 campaign.

The result ended a character-building run of six consecutive winless weekends for Russell. During that period, his younger Mercedes teammate Kimi Antonelli strengthened his control of the championship, including a memorable comeback victory at Monza in which the Italian fought through the field to beat Russell.

Russell’s difficult spell was also linked to the challenge of adapting to Formula 1’s unique 2026 regulations. While 20-year-old Antonelli appeared to find an immediate connection with the Mercedes W17, Russell struggled to extract the same level of performance from the car. After years of waiting for consistently competitive machinery, the Briton found himself challenged by a younger teammate just as a potential title opportunity emerged.

Russell credits resilience and adaptation for breakthrough

The Azerbaijan weekend rewarded the work Russell and his engineers had carried out behind the scenes to reverse his form. His victory over a charging Max Verstappen, after a double safety car had brought the field together, gave Russell renewed confidence and confirmed that his decision to maintain belief in his ability had been justified.

“It feels great,” Russell basked in his first win since June’s Austrian Grand Prix. “I’m very proud of the resilience that I and my close group of engineers have shown during the tough periods this year because there’s been a lot of hard work to overcome some of the challenges, to adapt my driving style to suit this new car better.

“F1 is so tough, you don’t get opportunities to practice this, and finally it’s coming to me a bit more intuitively than it once did, and I’m gaining confidence. And especially on circuits like this, it just allows you to eke out that little bit more on the brakes, get that little bit closer to the walls, and it’s been a flawless weekend.”

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Russell said his confidence had not disappeared during the difficult period. Instead, he believed there was an identifiable reason for his lack of pace and remained convinced that he could recover his form.

He added: “I never lost that faith in myself. Even through the tough moments I knew there was a reason why I was off the pace. It wasn’t like I just suddenly forgot how to drive, and I knew I would be able to find it again. I just had to be patient.”

Mercedes driver believes he can now fight for regular wins

Although Russell remained 66 points behind Antonelli, the Baku result made a championship comeback mathematically possible, even if the odds remained long. More immediately, the performance restored Russell’s belief that he could enter each remaining race with a genuine opportunity to win.

Russell had started from the front row in three of the four races since the break and had collected three podium finishes during that period. Holding off Verstappen in Baku added the strongest result of that sequence and gave him the most dominant weekend of his career.

“I feel confident. It’s been four races since the break. I’ve been on the front row in three of them, three podiums from the four races. I feel I can fight for victory week-in, week-out now,” the Briton insisted after holding off a hounding Max Verstappen to notch a grand slam, which is a win from pole while leading every lap and setting the fastest lap of the race.

“I think it’s probably my first grand slam in Formula 1 and, for sure, the most dominant weekend I’ve had in my career. So, that has come at a really great moment. And also to achieve it on a circuit that requires so much commitment and confidence, I’m really proud of it.

“It would have been very easy for me to lose the faith this season. Not necessarily about winning the championship, but in terms of my ability, and that never happened.”

Why This Matters

Russell’s Azerbaijan Grand Prix victory is significant because it demonstrates how quickly the competitive picture can shift during the 2026 Formula 1 season. After struggling to adapt to the Mercedes W17 and watching Antonelli establish a clear advantage, Russell has now produced a run of front-row starts, podiums and a commanding win.

The result does not erase Antonelli’s 66-point championship advantage, but it gives Mercedes two drivers capable of challenging at the front when they can maximise the car and their individual strengths. For Russell, the immediate priority is to carry the confidence and improved adaptation from Baku into the next race weekends.

Frequently Asked Questions

What did George Russell achieve in the Azerbaijan Grand Prix?

Russell won his third race of the 2026 Formula 1 season, led every lap from pole position, set the fastest lap and completed the first grand slam of his career.

How far behind Kimi Antonelli is Russell in the championship?

Russell remains 66 points behind his Mercedes teammate Kimi Antonelli. A title comeback is possible but carries long odds.

What is a Formula 1 grand slam?

A grand slam is achieved by winning from pole position, leading every lap and setting the fastest lap of the race.