Russell hits out: ‘Not right that everybody’s trying to slow us down’

George Russell has wasted no time laying down a marker in the 2026 Formula 1 season -- but the championship leader already senses that Mercedes’ rivals are working just as hard off the track as they are on it to halt the Silver Arrows’ momentum.

Two race weekends in, two victories on the board, and Russell sits firmly atop the drivers’ standings, projecting calm while acknowledging that success in Formula 1 rarely goes unchallenged for long.

From paddock whispers to technical adjustments filtering through the FIA, pressure is already building – not just on track, but behind the scenes.

Rivals circle as Mercedes surge ahead

Mercedes’ dominance has been emphatic. A clean sweep of races, including the sprint event in Shanghai, has opened a 21-point cushion over Ferrari, while reigning champions McLaren languish 80 points back after a difficult start.

That kind of advantage inevitably draws attention – and, often, attempts to rein it in.

“That’s just how the sport goes, to be honest, it’s always been the case,” Russell said. “At the end of the day our team’s worked so hard to get ourselves in this position, and the best team should come out on top.

“We’ve obviously had four years of struggle. There have been two other teams in those four years who have dominated and won, so just because we’re back on top I don’t think it’s quite right that somebody or everybody’s trying to slow us down, especially when you’re two races into a big old season.”

His remarks come as the FIA prepares to introduce changes from next June to how power units are monitored – an intervention that Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff fears could disrupt their current edge.

Still, Russell takes a pragmatic view: this is Formula 1, and the political battle is part of the game.

No guarantees in a long season

Despite the flawless start, Russell is under no illusion that Mercedes’ advantage is untouchable. Development races are already underway across the grid.

“We’ve already seen [that] Red Bull was overweight, from some things we saw in the press last week,” he said. “McLaren haven’t brought an upgrade to the car, they’re still running their Bahrain package. So we shouldn’t forget these things.

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“We do have an advantage right now but I think we’ve just really hit the ground running and we’ve done a great job and we hope it continues but there’s no guarantee.”

The message is clear: Mercedes may be leading now, but the competitive order is far from settled.

Front wing questions and technical intrigue

While rivals search for ways to close the gap, scrutiny has also fallen on Mercedes’ own machinery –specifically a curious behavior observed in the front wing during the Chinese Grand Prix.

Russell dismissed any notion of a hidden advantage.

“It wasn’t intentional and it’s not an advantage, for sure,” he said. “It’s actually a problem, so it’s something we’re trying to solve.

“It isn’t a straightforward solution, but there is definitely no advantage to that, because when we brake the front wing is still open. Obviously Kimi [Antonelli] had the lock-up [in the grand prix], I think this was a contribution [from] the front wing, so it is definitely not intentional.”

Instead, the issue highlights the technical complexity of modern F1 aerodynamics.

“It is very challenging for the front wing because if you compare it with the rear wing, when it starts to close you have the wind to help the rear wing to close,” he explained. “The front wing has to battle against the wind and you need a lot of pressure.

“I don’t know if we don’t have enough, but it isn’t easy to bring the wing up when you’re driving 300[kph] on the straight.”

For now, Mercedes remain the team to beat. But as Russell knows, leading the field brings its own pressures – especially when rivals are pushing for changes that could reshape the competitive landscape.

Composed and candid, the Briton appears ready for both battles ahead: the one fought wheel-to-wheel on Sundays, and the quieter, strategic fight unfolding behind closed doors.

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