George Russell has issued a public statement on social media after a Mexico City Grand Prix weekend in which his Mercedes team-mate Kimi Antonelli secured the Drivers' Championship and Russell left the circuit without completing his media duties. The Russell statement, posted on Instagram on Monday, is his first public comment on the weekend.
Russell statement follows Mexico media absence
Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff said Russell was "distraught" in Mexico and went home after congratulating Antonelli on the title. The FIA fined Mercedes €5,000 (£4,173) because Russell missed his mandatory post-race media obligations.
Russell opened by explaining his timing. "Now feels like a pretty suitable moment to speak from the heart," he wrote, before setting out a season he described as the first of his career with more bad days than good.
"It's been the first proper season of my career where I've had more bad days than good. Has it been tough to deal with? Yes, very. Has it been tough to pick myself up week in, week out? Yes, very. Confusion at times? Often. All I know is that I've given it my all and 2026 was not meant to be my year."
He also congratulated his team-mate directly. "I want to sincerely congratulate Kimi on what has been an absolutely incredible season. You truly deserve the Championship."
On the team, he wrote: "Thank you to the team for producing the best car and power unit this season; it's been inspiring to see everyone coming together over four tough years to bring Mercedes back to the top."
Antonelli's nine wins and Russell's fourth place
Antonelli, 20, became F1's youngest ever world champion with four rounds remaining. He has won nine races this season against Russell's three, and Russell has dropped to fourth in the Drivers' Championship.
Russell started the year as the clear title favourite. In Mexico his race was compromised on the opening lap by a power unit issue that left him with sub-optimal power; Sky Sports reported that he finished sixth.
Mercedes fine and the constructors' picture
The fine was applied to the team rather than the driver, and Wolff's description of Russell's state was given before the Instagram post appeared. The power unit problem in Mexico is the one technical detail the statement does not address.
Mercedes can still win the Constructors' Championship at the Sao Paulo Grand Prix this weekend, according to Sky Sports' title permutations. That gives the team a target separate from Russell's individual recovery.
Analysis: what the standings gap means
Analysis: the source does not give a points gap, but the win count of nine to three describes a season-long deficit rather than a single incident. Russell's own line, that 2026 "was not meant to be my year", frames the problem as a reset rather than a dispute with the team.
Sao Paulo Grand Prix next
Formula 1 moves to Brazil for the Sao Paulo Grand Prix, the final leg of the current triple header. Russell said he would keep working for the rest of this season and into the next one to "rediscover the performance I have been capable of producing for the majority of my career".
The original report is from skysports.com.
