Russell's bleak F1 title prediction after Canadian GP blow
George Russell says the 2026 Formula 1 title is Mercedes team-mate Kimi Antonelli’s "to lose" after Russell retired while leading the Canadian Grand Prix.
A power unit issue interrupted Russell and Antonelli’s dogfight for victory in Montreal and has opened up a 43-point chasm between Antonelli and Russell after just five events.
It continues what Russell feels has been an unlucky 2026 season so far, after he was compromised in qualifying at Shanghai and by the safety car timing that cost him victory to Antonelli at Suzuka.
"I mean, right now it's his to lose," a despondent Russell said after the race when The Race asked about the title fight.
"It's so many points ahead. It feels like... the gods don't want me to be in this fight - when I look at the safety car timing in Japan, breaking down in China Q3 [while] fighting for pole, breaking down from the lead here today.
"But pressure's off. Go out, enjoy every single race, try and win every single race - and I've got nothing to lose, so I don't want to be stood here talking like that.
"It is, of course, frustrating and I want to be in that fight. Hopefully, the luck turns."
Just as they had during the sprint race, Russell and Antonelli raced each other hard during the grand prix, even banging wheels at one stage, leading to calls from Mercedes to calm things down.
"I loved it. I thought it was great. I've not had a battle like this in years," Russell said.
"I haven't seen a battle like this probably since Lewis [Hamilton] and Nico [Rosberg] in Bahrain 2014. And these new cars allow you to do that. These new engines allow you to do that.
"I don't know why anybody wants to change them - because we had amazing battles in Melbourne, we had great battles in China, Kimi and I have had a great battle today and yesterday - and that's only possible because of how these power units are.
"So, yeah, that's my viewpoint."
Russell called it "extremely difficult" to break the one-second overtake mode barrier, which ensured the Mercedes cars remained close together from the start of the race until Russell’s problem.
"It was just challenging," Russell said of the conditions.
"In these cold conditions, the only way you get grip is by pushing the tyres to get the temperature.
"So you're just threading that needle of how hard you push but knowing the consequences are quite big - but the pace was strong."
