P1racenews AI automatic summary:
Bernie Ecclestone has remarkably ruled George Russell out of the 2026 F1 title race.
Bernie Ecclestone doesn’t see George Russell as a contender for the 2026 Formula 1 world championship, narrowing it down to two drivers: Andrea Kimi Antonelli and Max Verstappen. Antonelli, driving for Mercedes, holds a 20-point lead over Russell after securing his third consecutive victory at the Miami Grand Prix. Despite Russell’s talent, Ecclestone believes the title battle will be between Antonelli and Verstappen. Verstappen, with a slow start for Red Bull, has shown potential to challenge after recent improvements but still trails Antonelli by 74 points. As history has shown, Verstappen has the capability to stage a comeback, as demonstrated last season when he almost clinched the title after reducing a significant points deficit.
