George Russell openly acknowledged Ferrari's strength during a press conference at the Austrian Grand Prix weekend. Lewis Hamilton, who finished on the podium for the first time with Ferrari at the Spanish GP, surpassed Russell; meanwhile, championship leader Kimi Antonelli was forced to retire due to a car malfunction in the final laps while in second place.
Mercedes' six-race winning streak has come to an end.
This result also ended Mercedes' flawless run of winning the first six Grand Prix races of the 2026 season in a row. According to the current standings, Ferrari is 72 points behind Mercedes in the constructors' championship, while in the drivers' championship, Hamilton is 41 points behind leader Antonelli but 9 points ahead of Russell.
Russell welcomed Hamilton's return to top form, saying: “It’s really great to see Lewis doing what he does best again. It also shows just how demanding Formula 1 is. Car geometry, tire management, power unit — all of these need to work correctly at the same time.’
Russell also recalled the criticisms that prematurely dismissed Hamilton in 2024 and last season: “Back then, many people dismissed Lewis; they were asking, ‘Is he getting old, is there a problem?’ But he put in incredible performances in the last four or five races in a row. This proves that a driver doesn’t forget everything overnight.”
Ferrari's update speed is challenging Mercedes.
Russell emphasized that the result in Spain served as a warning for Mercedes. “This was an opportunity for us to see the reality. Ferrari was considered to be behind in terms of power units; however, they made a huge leap in Barcelona. They got very close to us in straight-line speed and they continue to bring updates,” he said.
Russell, noting that Mercedes has only offered one update package this season, drew attention to the pace of their rivals: “Ferrari and McLaren are bringing new parts almost every few races. We have some components on the road; however, considering the development speed of our rivals, it is essential that we also take action. Every new part moves a team forward.”
In conclusion, Russell summed up the current situation perfectly: “Kimi is leading the championship and continues to show impressive consistency. But Ferrari is closing in quickly, and Lewis is at the forefront of this picture. Both Lewis and Ferrari are truly strong contenders for the championship this season.”