P1racenews AI automatic summary:
Mercedes F1 star George Russell once stated he could have two championships to his name, but he still has zero in 2026.
When Lewis Hamilton announced his move to Ferrari in 2024, George Russell expected to step up as the No. 1 driver at Mercedes. After joining Mercedes from Williams in 2022, Russell became Hamilton’s teammate, but was replaced by Kimi Antonelli in 2025. Russell outperformed Antonelli in their first season together, finishing ahead in the standings. However, Antonelli has since taken the lead in the 2026 championship race, causing doubts about Russell’s potential for a championship. Russell’s previous comments about outperforming Hamilton now seem ironic, given his current struggles against Antonelli at Mercedes.
