F1: Russell Says Teams May Pay the Price in Pursuit of Mercedes in 2026

July 2, 2026

George Russell spoke about the rivals’ pursuit of Mercedes in the battle for the Formula 1 title and stated that teams may ‘pay the price’ later in the season.

The German team has emerged as the team to beat in the fight for both the Constructors’ and Drivers’ championships. Of the eight races run so far, they have won seven, losing only the Barcelona Grand Prix to Ferrari and Lewis Hamilton.

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Race winner George Russell (GBR) Mercedes AMG Formula One Team W17 celebrates in parc ferme.

Thus, looking at the rivals, the Briton, the championship runner-up, said that “the car has been extremely consistent across all the races so far,” he stated.

“We were surprised by the number of updates some teams are bringing. Perhaps they will pay the price later in the season,” he added.

Jake Thompson

Jake Thompson

I'm Jake Thompson, a motorsport journalist born and raised in North Carolina, where NASCAR weekends were basically family holidays. I’ve been covering everything from Formula 1 to rally raids for over a decade, blending sharp analysis with a fan’s heart. For me, writing about racing isn’t just a job — it’s the best seat in the house.