George Russell has conceded that the Formula One drivers' championship is effectively out of his reach after a series of setbacks, including a pit lane penalty in Monaco, left him 68 points behind teammate Kimi Antonelli. The 28-year-old Briton said the pressure is now off, and he plans to focus on enjoying each race rather than chasing the title.
Sunday's Barcelona-Catalunya Grand Prix marks the seventh round of the season, with Mercedes expected to be competitive. However, it is 19-year-old Antonelli who has won five consecutive races and built a commanding lead in the standings. Russell's latest misfortune came in Monaco, where he was penalised for speeding in the pit lane and later received an additional drive-through penalty for serving the initial five-second sanction incorrectly, finishing 12th.
Reflecting on his season, Russell said: 'It has been very tough. But if it was just a neutral season, I think I’d have had three more podiums and it would have been five out of six races on the podium, maybe a couple of wins. I’d probably be slightly behind Kimi, but the picture is totally different.' He added that he will now focus on controlling what he can, noting that engine failures and safety car timing are beyond his control.
Meanwhile, Alpine's appeal against the Monaco pit lane speeding penalties, which cost Pierre Gasly a podium finish, has been partially upheld by the FIA. Two elements of their case were ruled admissible, with a final decision due on Friday. Gasly described losing third place as 'the hardest day I’ve had in F1 and in my sport career.'
In other news, the FIA has confirmed that Pirelli will remain the sole tyre supplier for Formula One until 2028.
