George Russell feels that he has “nothing to lose” in the championship fight after losing ground to team mate Kimi Antonelli last time out in Canada, with the Briton confident that “things always balance themselves out” during the season.
Off the back of winning Saturday’s Sprint in Montreal, Russell led from pole in Sunday’s Grand Prix before a power unit issue forced him to retire on Lap 30 of 68. Antonelli went on to take victory, allowing the Italian to stretch out his lead in the standings to 43 points over Russell.
Reflecting back on the weekend at the Circuit Gilles-Villeneuve, Russell conceded that there were “a lot of emotions in the moment” but that he is now focused on continuing his good form going forward.
“It’s just racing, that’s how it goes,” he said of his DNF in Montreal. “Sometimes it goes for you, sometimes it goes against you. Over the course of a season, usually these things balance themselves out and if I can continue qualifying on pole, fighting for wins and leading races, then the tide will turn so I’m not too concerned.
“Of course, I would have loved to have won the race and continued to fight with Kimi, but here we are and we’ve still got 17 races to go.”
Pushed on the idea that he now has nothing to lose – and that there is a good chance that he will experience better luck again soon – Russell responded: “These things always balance themselves out at one point and, as you say, I’ve got nothing to lose. I’m just going to go out and enjoy every race.
“It’s still in my control. If you pole and win every single race from now until the end of the season, you’ll win the championship. That is my goal. Of course, it was frustrating in Canada but that’s part of racing. It can’t always be sunshine and glory.”
Russell added that the title is still “anybody’s to win”, and suggested that there have been numerous cases in years gone by of the driver who eventually wins the championship experiencing difficult moments during the season.
“When I’ve looked at it and looked over championships in the past, I don’t think there’s ever been a season where the winner hasn’t had some form of bad luck at one point,” he explained. “Even Lando [Norris] last year broke down in Zandvoort and was disqualified in Las Vegas.
“[There have been] other drivers in other seasons – Max [Verstappen] in 2021, his tyre blew out in Azerbaijan. There’s always something at some point that goes against you as a driver.
“I’ve had it once or twice already this season. Maybe that’s the last of it and it all swings around, but there’s plenty of opportunities remaining and I’m just feeling good that I ticked every box possible in Canada. I did everything that I could have and, if I continue like that, all to play for.”
Looking ahead to how Mercedes might fare at the Monaco Grand Prix this weekend, Russell echoed Antonelli’s recent suggestion that Ferrari will be the team to beat on the streets of Monte Carlo.
“It’s clear a big part of our advantage compared to Ferrari has been in the power unit, and in Monaco, because there are not many straights, the power unit advantage is substantially less,” the 28-year-old said.
“We know Charles [Leclerc] especially but Ferrari [as a team] have always been very strong here. We expect them to be probably the fastest this weekend, but I hope I’m wrong.
“I still believe we have the best car, but Monaco has always been a strong circuit for Ferrari and maybe not so strong for Mercedes.
“I remember in 2021, Leclerc was on pole when the car was not so strong, and also in 2024 and 2025 he was on the front row. We’ll be in the fight, but it won’t be as smooth sailing as the last races.”
