Antonelli claims title as Russell admits 2026 was not his year

Kimi Antonelli has become Formula One's youngest champion, a milestone that ended George Russell's bid for the title and marked the first championship for Italy in 73 years. The 20-year-old driver clinched the World Drivers' Championship with four rounds still on the calendar, a result that shifted the power dynamic within the Mercedes garage.

The statistical gap between the teammates widened throughout the 2026 season. Antonelli won nine races, while Russell recorded three victories. Despite starting the year as the bookmakers' favorite and holding the more experienced role at the team, Russell finished the season with a lower win count than his rookie teammate.

Russell described the season as one where bad days outnumbered good ones. He posted on Instagram that the campaign began as hoped but unraveled due to bad luck and poor performances. "2026 was not meant to be my year," he wrote, noting the confusion and difficulty of maintaining motivation week after week.

Team principal Toto Wolff called Russell "distraught" after the Mexico City Grand Prix on Sunday. The British driver started on the front row but lost several positions when his car suddenly slowed. Wolff stated that the team had let Russell down, leading to a sixth-place finish that capped a difficult afternoon.

Russell congratulated Antonelli on an "absolutely incredible" season, saying the Italian truly deserved the title. He promised to give his all for the remainder of the campaign and into next year to rediscover the performance level he has shown in most of his career. The season continues with four races remaining.