George Russell 'Doesn't Feel Lost Anymore' After Azerbaijan Win

George Russell believes he has finally rediscovered the form that deserted him at Mercedes earlier in the season, saying he “doesn’t feel lost any more” as he targets a late push in the championship fight.

His win in Azerbaijan, his first victory in three months, has restored confidence at a crucial moment, with Mercedes preparing for a significant upgrade ahead of the Bahrain Grand Prix in Malaysia.

George Russell and Mercedes: Confidence Rebuilt

Russell says the turning point came when his driving began to feel natural again, rather than a conscious effort to adapt to the 2026 Formula 1 cars.

Earlier in the year, he struggled to extract performance from the car, allowing Antonelli to seize control of the title race.

Now, Russell feels he can “fight for victory week in week out”, adding that he finally understands what he needs from both the car and himself.

Mercedes expect McLaren to be strong at Sepang, but their first major upgrade in months could bring them into contention. Russell believes another big result could shift the psychological momentum of the title fight, even with a sizeable points deficit.

He says he is approaching the final third of the season “race by race”, confident that he is “more at one with the car” than at any point this year.

Antonelli, meanwhile, endured his toughest weekend of the season in Baku.

A qualifying crash left him 16th on the grid, and although he recovered to fifth, he admitted he had to drive “under the limit” to avoid further mistakes.

Ferrari Stability and Hamilton’s Support for Vasseur

Lewis Hamilton has publicly backed Ferrari team principal Frédéric Vasseur after speculation over his future, calling him “the guy to lead us”.

Hamilton argues that replacing Vasseur would be “detrimental”, highlighting Ferrari’s progress since a winless 2025 season.

Both he and Charles Leclerc have taken victories this year despite a significant engine deficit to Mercedes and Red Bull.

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