Mercedes’ George Russell finished P2 in the F1 2026 Italian GP. The Brit led the race through multiple laps, but was eventually hunted down by teammate Kimi Antonelli from P19.
George Russell started the race in P2, behind Alpine’s Pierre Gasly. He couldn’t get past on the start, but was able to overtake the Frenchman at the start of lap 2. Russell began to build a gap to the cars behind, until Charles Leclerc lost the car and crashed into the barriers, causing a red flag.
By the restart, Russell tried to defend his lead from Verstappen. As both driver switched places, Antonelli closed in on Piastri and reached the podium. Eventually, Antonelli overtook the Red Bull and hunted down his teammate. Both Mercedes battled for a few laps. But around lap 23, a VSC was called out as Stroll stopped on track. While Antonelli and Verstappen took the cheap pitstop, Russell remained P1.
Still, on fresh mediums, Antonelli flew through the field and reached Russel once again with 5 laps remaining. The Italian tried to overtake and went off the track, but quickly regrouped. Finally, on lap 53, with the team’s pressure to keep it clean, Antonelli overtook Russell for the win.
Russell: “The performance is far better than I’ve had pre-shutdown”
After the F1 2026 Italian GP, George Russell reflected on his performance over the weekend. The Brit finished P3 in FP1, P1 in FP2 and FP3, and qualified and crossed the checkered flag in P2. Overall, Russell was satisfied with his improvements after the summer break.
“Yeah, I mean, it was obviously a great race all round from the neutral perspective. I think as soon as I saw Kimi up to P5 after just a handful of laps, I knew he was going to be in the fight with us,” said Russell during the post-race press conference. “So, yeah, that was… clearly had a very impressive opening few laps.”
“And it was just very challenging to break the slipstream.”
The British driver explained how different it was to drive up front in clean air. “You know, I think whoever was leading would then be vulnerable to being overtaken again. So I think that’s what helped sort of drag a lot of cars along in those early laps.”
Still, Russell marked it as a good weekend. “But as I said, I’m going to take the positives from the weekend.Because for me personally, pre-summer break, it was a real tough run of form. Come back since the break with the sprint and the two races we’ve been in the top three in all of them.
“So, of course, I would have loved to have won today, but the performance is far better than I’ve had pre-shutdown,” he concluded honestly.
“I felt in a good position in that battle,” Russell on his fight with Antonelli in Monza
Russell discussed how comfortable he felt in the battle with teammate Kimi Antonelli during the F1 2026 Italian GP. “You know, I would have loved to have continued on the same strategy. Because I felt in a good position in that battle. I sort of knew exactly what I needed to do with the energy management to defend. But also when to attack and make those moves.”
He insisted: “And I put a lot of preparation into this race in that regard.
“Then, of course, when the VSC came out, it kind of came out of that perfect point for the drivers to pull the trigger and take the pit stop.” The Brit lamented: “And yeah, here we are.”
When asked if the race felt reminiscent of Canada, Russell answered: “Yeah, I guess now you say it probably a little bit.”
Both Mercedes had also swapped around in Montreal. Ultimately, it was heartbreak for Russell then too, as he retired from the lead due to reliability issues.
During the podium celebrations in Monza, Russell seemed to be booed by the crowd. When asked about it, he laughed it off.
“And yeah, I mean, obviously, when you’re racing in somebody else’s home country, that’s to be expected. So yeah, shrugged it off.”
Pit strategies and the impact of the VSC in the F1 2026 Italian GP
Both Antonelli and Verstappen took advantage of the virtual safety car on lap 28, while Russell stayed out. The Italian switched his old mediums for a new set. While the Dutchman went from mediums to hard tyres.
On whether he had seriously considered pitting under the VSC, Russell admitted: “I didn’t. I actually thought the guys behind me were going to stay out as well.
“But I’m sure the team were quite nervous on the pit wall watching our battle and were probably quite happy to send us on different strategies,” commented Russell. “And of course, when we had Max in the mix as well from a team perspective, you’re covering off both scenarios.
“So, you know, today, Kimi did a great job,” he stated.
Russel only pitted along with everyone else on the red flag, switching his mediums for hards. After the restart, he stayed on those tyres up to the end. “Well, that was definitely the best tyre to take to the end,” he said on his confidence in that pit strategy.
“I did think it was viable. When I saw Max and Kimi on the medium, I was feeling pretty good because I knew they were going to drop off more than me.”
Russell recalled: “So in that middle stage of the race, I was really happy with my position.
“And of course, before the VSC, I had a couple of laps, probably two or three laps, where I was leading. The team obviously didn’t want Kimi and I battling.”
The driver pondered: “So it would have been very interesting to see how the race would have panned out if there was no VSC.”
He was also asked if he felt Antonelli had received a more favorable strategy. Russell contemplated: “I think, you know, I was on the hard tire, and Kimi was on the medium tyre. So if either of us were to pit, it was going to be Kimi.” He added: “And that’s, I guess, why I was a little bit annoyed with the timing of that VSC. Because, like Max said, I think it would have been tough for those guys in the medium to have competed with anybody on the hard tire.”
“But, you know, it takes nothing away from Kimi’s drive altogether,” he repeated.
“I’m not even thinking about a fight or a comeback,” says Russell on championship outlook
After the Italian GP, Russell spoke honestly on his mentality for the rest of the 2026 F1 season. Currently, Antonelli widens his lead with 267 points in the drivers’ championship. Russell creates a gap to Hamilton, but still remains in P2 with 201 points.
On his thoughts about the 66 point gap, Russell declared: “Yeah, I mean, you know, it’s definitely Kimi’s in control of it. And, you know, he’s deserving to be in control of it.
“For me personally, I’m not even thinking about a fight or a comeback or anything,” he confessed. “I’m just focused on taking it race by race and trying to maximize every single weekend.
“You know, he’s performing incredibly well,” he added about Antonelli’s form.“It’s going to be exceptionally challenging to overcome that gap.
“So I’m just sort of accepting that is what it is. And I’m just going to enjoy it from here on in and try and win as many races as possible.”
