George Russell feels that the 2026 Formula 1 season has been a test of his resolve as his championship hopes have all but slipped away, but feels his soul-searching across the year has led him to a breakthrough in how to drive with the current cars.
Although Russell opened the year with victory, having been marked as the early championship favourite as Mercedes started the season with the fastest car, his team-mate Kimi Antonelli did not need long to find an advantage over his more senior team-mate and build his championship lead with strong early momentum.
