George Russell will start second in Mexico, nine thousandths of a second behind Lewis Hamilton, but says his hit rate this season is too low.
George Russell qualified second for the Mexico City Grand Prix, nine thousandths of a second behind Ferrari's Lewis Hamilton. The Mercedes driver said he is glad of the front row but frustrated by a lack of consistency, and called the start and Turn 1 crucial for Sunday's race.
George Russell will start the Mexico City Grand Prix from the front row after a close qualifying fight with Ferrari's Lewis Hamilton, who took pole by just nine thousandths of a second. Russell, who topped the leaderboard with a late effort in the final minutes of Q3 before Hamilton beat his time, said he is pleased with P2 but still frustrated with how unevenly his Mercedes performs.
Russell said he did not feel in the fight all day and was glad to have delivered when it mattered. The team is, he said, either producing very good laps or very bad ones, with nothing in between. He believes the performance is in the car but said the hit rate is too low at the moment, and that he is still struggling to get on top of it after a difficult weekend until his one lap in Q3.
Cooler conditions helped
The Mexico City track, with its high altitude and low grip, has proved a unique challenge for the drivers. Russell said falling temperatures at the end of the session worked in his favour, helped by cloud cover and a setting sun. He added that a very hard out-lap gave him the confidence to get grip into the tyre, which let him find the lap time.
What it means for Sunday
Russell has had a topsy-turvy 2026, with reliability problems and inconsistent outings, and his title chances have faded as team mate Kimi Antonelli has found form. Antonelli is two points from clinching his first world championship in Mexico City, and a finish in ninth place or higher would be enough whatever Russell does.
Russell is second in the standings, with Hamilton one point behind him. He expects the top eight drivers to be very close in the race, and said the start and Turn 1 will be crucial. His plan is to move up a position there and hold it, and he believes he can fight for the win if he gets away well and passes the Ferrari early.
