P1racenews AI automatic summary:
George Russell is quickly emerging as many people’s favourite for a maiden F1 drivers’ title in 2026.
Former F1 driver Karun Chandhok has labelled George Russell as the favorite for the 2026 drivers’ title, seeing him as “ready to be world champion.” With Russell’s move to Mercedes in 2022, this upcoming season, alongside the introduction of new power unit regulations, presents his best opportunity yet for a championship win. Mercedes’ impressive performance during the recent Barcelona test suggests they will be the team to beat, having dominated previous engine regulation changes. Chandhok believes that the integrated structure of Mercedes and Ferrari gives them an advantage at the start of a new rule cycle. He considers Russell to be a top contender for the championship, especially given his exceptional performance in the previous season. According to Chandhok, Russell is well-prepared to challenge for the world championship if the car proves to be competitive enough.
