P1racenews AI automatic summary:
George Russell responds to claims he and Mercedes are the F1 2026 title favourites.
George Russell is staying calm despite being seen as the early favorite to win the 2026 Formula 1 world championship. Even though Mercedes and Russell are seen as the pre-season championship favorites, Russell is not getting too caught up in that role. He believes in taking each race as it comes and not letting outside noise affect his performance on the track. Personally, Russell feels confident heading into his eighth F1 season and fifth with Mercedes, building on a strong year in 2025. Despite Mercedes having a good pre-season, Russell is cautious and points to past instances where a strong start did not guarantee season-long success. He notes a positive change in morale within the Mercedes team over the offseason, attributing it to the car’s performance and team dynamics.
