Headed into the Formula one season, many spectators thought one thing was for certain: 2026 was going to be George Russell’s season at Mercedes.

Instead, it’s been his teammate, Kimi Antonelli, who has been securing wins, points, and headlines. Russell hasn’t had a bad season by any means, but Antonelli’s dominance through three races has been unexpected.

Russell is the favourite for the title and is the team’s lead driver, but could the current championship standings change that? We unpack what this means for George Russell’s season and his future career with Mercedes.

An assessment of George Russell’s season so far

George Russell is currently in second place in the Driver’s Championship, nine points behind his teammate Kimi Antonelli. Russell is in a strong place, especially given how early in the season it is. However, a closer look reveals some potential points may have been left on track.

At the Chinese Grand Prix, Russell had an unfortunate Q3, complaining of the engine breaking. Mercedes managed to reset Russell’s car, but the time lost in the session meant Russell could only complete a single run, and fell short of pole position. During the race, Russell ultimately finished in second place.

Suzuka was a frustrating weekend for the British driver. An early safety car gave Antonelli a free pit stop from P1, and allowed him to build a sizeable lead. Meanwhile, Russell dropped to P4 on the safety car restart and could not overtake either of the Ferraris for a podium spot.

While none of this is outright bad, small outcomes in both races have opened up a 9-point gap between Russell and Antonelli. This is certainly an early complication in Russell’s championship hopes, but nothing unrecoverable.

Is George Russell still Mercedes’ number one driver in 2026?

After Lewis Hamilton left the team, George Russell was obviously positioned as the number one driver. However, two race weekends later, Kimi Antonelli looks to have all the momentum.

As of now, it would be a stretch to assume that Mercedes has demoted Russell to secondary driver. As strong as Antonelli has been, Russell has seven years of experience in F1, and that experience shouldn’t be discounted.

If Antonelli’s lead continues to advance throughout the season, the question will be how Mercedes responds. As we saw with McLaren last season, not picking a number one driver can have as many consequences for team dynamics as choosing one does.

Should George Russell stay with Mercedes past 2026?

George Russell is currently on a multi-year deal, lasting until at least the end of this year. Like many drivers, Russell has been clear about wanting to compete for championships. The desire to be competitive is what led him to Mercedes in the first place.

Driver contracts at teams including Ferrari, McLaren, and Williams will also expire at the end of 2027. Assuming Russell stays healthy and continues to perform well, he would be a great signing for any of these teams. However, Mercedes has historically been a team to stick with their drivers for the long haul. Russell has spent four seasons with the team, and Antonelli looks to have a long-term future with Mercedes as well.

Ultimately, signing with a new team is a decision that includes business, performance, and team culture considerations. However, with Mercedes being the early winner in new regulations, Russell’s future with the team may also depend on how quickly other teams can catch up.

Looking ahead to May

The current 5-week break might be exactly what George Russell needs right now. With Kimi Antonelli gaining momentum, a pause is a great opportunity for Russell to reset and come back strong for the next race.

Looking ahead to the Miami Grand Prix, George Russell and the Mercedes team will be hoping for a clean race with no car performance issues. Winning titles takes a fast driver, car, and sound race strategy, and Russell needs to demonstrate he’s just as capable of being that driver.