Russell Runs Home

Silverstone, United Kingdom (AFP) George Russell heads into the British Grand Prix chasing a home victory that could sharpen his title challenge after a timely return to form in Austria.

The 28-year-old Mercedes driver cut into the gap to team-mate Kimi Antonelli with victory at the Red Bull Ring last Sunday, his second win of the season after back-to-back pole positions.

Russell remains 40 points behind the 19-year-old Italian after eight rounds of the 22-race championship, but his Austria win ended a difficult run and restored the momentum that made him a pre-season title favorite.

Antonelli still leads the Mercedes charge after winning five straight races earlier in the season, but Russell’s latest result has reopened the intra-team contest before one of the biggest weekends on the calendar.

Mercedes enters Silverstone in strong shape after winning nine of the last 13 British races and seven grands prix this season. The Brackley-based team is expected to be well suited to Silverstone’s high-speed layout, where its car and power unit package have been among the strongest on the grid.

Russell said he would welcome a wider fight involving more teams and drivers as the hybrid era continues to deliver unpredictable racing.

“I’d love a big fight,” said Russell.

“To be honest, you want the best drivers with the best teams all fighting and, of course, Max is very much one of the best – with Lewis, Charles, Lando, Oscar…

“The more the merrier. It feels like when we all raced in go-karting… That’s how it should be.”

A win for Russell would extend a recent run of British success at Silverstone after Lewis Hamilton and Lando Norris won in 2024 and 2025. Russell, Hamilton and Norris also delivered the first all-British podium since 1968 when they finished first, second and third in Catalunya.

“I’m so looking forward to it,” said Russell. “It’s the atmosphere, the fans. I’m sure it’s going to be great.”

Mercedes, however, is unlikely to have a clear path. Defending champion Norris of McLaren, Ferrari’s seven-time world champion Hamilton and Red Bull’s Max Verstappen are all former Silverstone winners.

Hamilton, who won his first Ferrari race and the 106th victory of his career in Spain three weeks ago, is chasing a record-extending 10th British Grand Prix win. But he admitted Ferrari still has work to do after its power disadvantage showed in Austria.

“There’s no magic fix in racing,” he said. “It’s a lot of small steps.”

Verstappen, who finished a close second in Austria with Red Bull’s revised car, played down his chances at Silverstone, saying the circuit’s high-speed demands leave little room for energy recovery.

“You barely have any battery around the lap – it’s just constantly flat out,” he said.

The British Grand Prix will be the fourth sprint weekend of the season.