Nico Rosberg: “George Russell doesn’t understand himself”

At the start of the 2026 season, George Russell was tipped as the clear favourite to win the world championship. With nine races still to go according to the official calendar, the Briton now trails his Mercedes team-mate Kimi Antonelli by 81 points. Former Silver Arrow driver Nico Rosberg, who knows all too well about internal rivalries from his time at Mercedes, explains what the situation is like for Russell.

Speaking in his capacity as a Sky pundit, Rosberg said: “I’m very impressed by George, because he really is a perfectionist and tries to optimise every single aspect of his performance. I know he’s working on his mental state. He meditates, he does everything he can, and I really admire that. But it’s all the harder for him because he doesn’t understand himself.” Excuse me?

You start to doubt yourself

Rosberg explains the Briton’s situation: “He’s always been quick. He was always at least on a par with his team-mate, and suddenly he’s lost that, and that’s really painful because you start to doubt yourself.” Russell had started the 2026 season as the clear favourite and even won the opening race. But then his team-mate, who was just 19 at the start of the season, overtook him.

Rosberg: “It doesn’t matter how confident you are. Then that thought creeps in: Am I not good enough, or was I better before and am I just doing something wrong now?” The 2016 world champion: “That’s really difficult.”

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