Four-time world champion Sebastian Vettel has thrown a bold prediction into Formula 1’s swirling 2026 uncertainty – and it’s not Max Verstappen or a McLaren driver he’s tipping.
Instead, Vettel says his “gut feeling” points firmly toward George Russell for championship glory.
With sweeping new regulations set to reshuffle the competitive order, the paddock is awash with speculation. Testing in Bahrain has offered hints, but no hard answers. And in a season that promises to reset the grid, Vettel has decided to trust instinct over noise.
Vettel’s Vote: ‘I would pick George’
Appearing on ServusTV, Vettel weighed the landscape carefully before landing on his choice.
"On the one hand, based on what can be seen so far, it is probably not a bad choice to tip Mercedes," the German driver explained Sport und Talk aus dem Hangar-7.
"But quite deliberately, McLaren also runs Mercedes engines, and they have not done a bad job in recent years.
"However, I would pick George, because I consider him very intelligent, because I know how hard he works on himself, and because I think he is smart enough to understand what he personally can contribute as a driver to make the difference.
"There are several drivers in the field who can do that, but in the current situation my gut feeling would be that George, together with Mercedes, will succeed best this year."
It’s not just a polite endorsement – it’s a calculated nod to Russell’s brainpower and graft. Vettel isn’t merely backing a car. He’s backing the driver inside it.
The subtext? In a regulation reset, the smartest operators often rise fastest.
Russell Keeping His Head Down
For his part, Russell isn’t getting carried away. As testing wound down in Bahrain, the Briton kept the focus on groundwork rather than glory.
"After a solid opening day yesterday, we had more productive running in Bahrain this morning," the Briton said in a press release from Mercedes.
"Once again, our programme wasn’t necessarily focused on finding pure performance but understanding our updates and more about the W17. We were able to do that whilst completing the most laps of anyone in the morning session.
"We now have one final day on track before we head to Melbourne. Whilst we have made up for the lost running in test one, we still have a very full programme to work through tomorrow.
"I’m looking forward to getting back out in the car in the afternoon and focused on helping the team leave Bahrain in the strongest possible position.
“We’ve seen some impressive single lap work and long runs from our competitors yet again today so adding to our mileage on Friday is very important."
Measured. Methodical. Focused. Exactly the traits Vettel believes could tip the balance in a season where everyone starts again from scratch.
In a year of unknowns, the 53-time Grand Prix winner has made his call. And if Seb’s instinct proves right, 2026 may finally belong to George Russell.
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