George Russell has vowed to fight until it is mathematically impossible to win the Formula One world title, ahead of this weekend's race at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix. 

Russell is second in the drivers' championship behind Kimi Antonelli, with the Italian currently holding an 81-point lead over his Mercedes team-mate with nine races remaining. 

The Brit enjoyed a fine start to the season after winning the Australian Grand Prix, only for Antonelli to reel off five consecutive wins to pull clear at the top of the standings.

Since then, Russell has only managed one race win, which came in Austria, while retirements in Canada and Belgium further dented his hopes of winning the title.

Russell followed up back-to-back podiums in Zandvoort and Monza with a fifth-place finish in Madrid last time out, taking him 20 points clear of Ferrari's Lewis Hamilton. 

And although he has effectively ruled himself out of challenging Antonelli for the title, Russell insisted that his approach to each race weekend will not change moving forwards. 

"I'm going to keep fighting every single race until it's mathematically impossible," Russell said. 

"But it doesn't change how I go about my job. I want to try and win every single race and put it on pole every single race. That's my goal.

"That's what I'm working towards every single weekend, and what happens thereafter will be.

"And there's obviously a huge deficit, but it's not even really a consideration right now. It's just the performance is the biggest priority."

T̶h̶u̶r̶s̶d̶a̶y̶ Wednesday in Baku pic.twitter.com/1q0LiW0SqW

— Mercedes-AMG PETRONAS F1 Team (@MercedesAMGF1) September 23, 2026

After triumphing at the Spanish Grand Prix, Antonelli's lead in the drivers' championship has never been greater, with the talented teenager already winning eight races in 2026. 

Russell was tipped as the pre-season title favourite, but he has spoken openly about his difficulties in matching his driving style to the all-new 2026 regulations and cars. 

He believes the situation is improving, while also underlining the importance of continuing that trend until the final race. 

"I think it is very important to try and resolve some issues which, as I mentioned before, I think I've been pleased with that progress since the summer break," Russell added. 

"The race pace, which was a weakness, has been substantially better and has been in the mix every single race since the break.

"And I now feel more comfortable that I can fight for great results."

DRIVERS TO WATCH

Kimi Antonelli – Mercedes

It's proving to be a stunning second season in F1 for Antonelli, who has claimed eight wins in 14 races so far this season, two more than all the other drivers combined (six). 

He is already the driver with the most wins in a single season without having won the drivers' championship, surpassing McLaren's Oscar Piastri, who managed seven last year.

Antonelli has also led at least one lap in each of the last 13 races.

Should he also lead a lap in Baku, he will equal the fourth-longest streak in the history of the championship, joining Hamilton (14 between Styria and Bahrain in 2020) and Max Verstappen (14 between Japan 2023 and Emilia-Romagna 2024).

Back-to-back iconic moments for Kimi pic.twitter.com/fzcb2xghLY

— Mercedes-AMG PETRONAS F1 Team (@MercedesAMGF1) September 17, 2026

But Russell will fancy his chances of challenging for the win too, given Mercedes have had at least one of their two drivers finish on the podium in each of the first 14 races of 2026. They have only achieved a longer streak at the start of a season once before, when they recorded 19 in 2014.

The team have entered the top 10 for the longest podium streaks at the start of a season, equalling Red Bull's run of 14 in 2023. 

In addition, the Silver Arrows have scored points at each of the last 30 races, the longest active streak of any team in the sport.

They have only recorded a longer streak on four occasions: 62 twice (Brazil 2012 – Russia 2016, France 2021 – Saudi Arabia 2024), 55 (Great Britain 2018 – Monaco 2021) and 44 (Monaco 2016 – France 2018). 

Max Verstappen – Red Bull 

Verstappen arrives in Baku with confidence, having finished in the podium places in four of the last five races, and he returns to a track he won at last season. 

The Dutchman has the opportunity to become the first driver to claim back-to-back victories at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix, while he is only one of two drivers, along with Valtteri Bottas in 2019, to win the race from pole position. 

No driver has scored more points at the Baku circuit than Verstappen's former Red Bull team-mate Sergio Perez (115). However, should the Mexican fail to score points with Cadillac, the four-time world champion (currently on 100) could equal or surpass him.

But Verstappen has failed to secure either a pole position or a victory in the first 14 races of the season. Only in his debut season in 2015 did he go without a win in the first 15 races of the calendar. 

CHAMPIONSHIP STANDINGS

Drivers'

1. Kimi Antonelli (Mercedes) – 292

2. George Russell (Mercedes) – 211

3. Lewis Hamilton (Ferrari) – 191

4. Lando Norris (McLaren) – 186

5. Charles Leclerc (Ferrari) – 167

Constructors'

1. Mercedes – 503

2. Ferrari – 358

3. McLaren – 306

4. Red Bull – 230

5. Racing Bulls – 77