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George Russell rues bad luck after finishing fourth in Japan as Kimi Antonelli’s second straight win puts the teenage star atop the F1 standings, nine points ahead.
Mercedes’ George Russell (Credit: X/Kym Illman)
It was supposed to be George Russell’s season to stamp authority. Three races in, it’s Kimi Antonelli who’s rewriting that script.
The 19-year-old Italian continued his stunning start to the campaign with victory at the Japanese Grand Prix, making it back-to-back wins and propelling himself to the top of the championship standings.
In doing so, Antonelli became the first Italian since Alberto Ascari in 1953 to win consecutive races and, notably, the first teenager to lead the title race.
For Russell, however, Suzuka was another case of “what could have been.”
When It All Went Wrong
Running strongly in second, Russell’s race unravelled in a matter of laps.
A high-speed crash involving Ollie Bearman triggered a safety car at a crucial moment, handing Antonelli a well-timed pit stop advantage.
From there, things spiralled.
A battery issue further compromised Russell’s pace, allowing both Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc to overtake. Although Russell managed to reclaim one position to finish fourth, the damage was done.
He now trails his Mercedes teammate by nine points in the standings.
“Everything Is Going Against Me”
Russell didn’t hold back when assessing his recent run of misfortune.
“At the moment, it is just one thing after the other. Racing can go for you, but it can also go against you too, and at the moment, every issue we are having is on my side of the garage and I am the one going through that pain.”
He pointed to a frustrating pattern: clean practice sessions followed by issues when it matters most.
“Sometimes people have problems in practice. We have not had a single issue in practice, but I have had problems in qualifying instead. It is the luck of the draw with these new cars.”
No Panic Yet Though For Russell
Despite the early setback, Russell remains composed about his title chances.
“But it is race three of 22, and I am not concerned at all. It is a long year, and I know I have got what it takes to bounce back. I won’t dwell on it.”
Asked whether Antonelli’s momentum is becoming a concern, his response was clear:
“No, not at all… We have got a four-week break, so there is no momentum to be carried over. We will reset and go again for the next race.”
With a sizeable five-week break before the next round at the Miami Grand Prix, Russell has time to regroup, along with the pressure to respond.
March 30, 2026, 7:26 PM IST
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