After clinching a crucial victory in Azerbaijan—his third win of the season and first in three months—Mercedes driver George Russell says he has finally cracked the code to this year's car. Trailing his teammate and current championship leader Kimi Antonelli by 66 points, the British driver is heading into the final stretch of the season with renewed belief.
With roughly a third of the season remaining, Russell believes a title comeback isn't out of the question, especially as Mercedes prepares to roll out a major upgrade package for this weekend's clash at Sepang. The team is bracing for a tough fight against McLaren on the sweeping circuit, but Russell feels technically and mentally prepared for the challenge.
"The thing that's changed is I feel my performances are strong enough to fight for victory week in week out," Russell explained. "I know what I need from the car and myself and I don't really feel lost any more."
The early stages of the year saw Russell initially pegged as a title favorite before he struggled to adapt to sweeping new car and engine regulations. This allowed Antonelli to seize control of the standings. Russell admitted he had to consciously alter his driving style to compensate, a meticulous process that initially compromised his raw pace.
"I went through a few races where I was having to think how to make those adjustments, whereas now it's all just a bit more intuitive and a bit more natural," he noted. "Confidence is back and it's growing again... I can just focus on driving fast."
Looking ahead, Russell remains realistic about the daunting points deficit but is eager to maximize the upcoming upgrades and put the pressure back on his teammate.
"Of course there is a big deficit in the championship, but there is a third of a season to go and still so much can happen," Russell said. "I am just going to go race by race. I feel more at one with the car and hopefully this upgrade will play into my favour a bit more. So bring it on."
Meanwhile, Antonelli is looking to bounce back after a bruising weekend in Baku. A qualifying crash relegated the Italian to 16th on the starting grid, though he ultimately managed to salvage a fifth-place finish by driving a highly conservative race.
"Last weekend was probably the worst weekend for me of the season," Antonelli admitted. "But still good learning... it was one of those races where I consciously tried not to take any risks."