Ecclestone has already excluded Russell from the title contest.
"Antonelli or Verstappen will be the world champion"
Bernie Ecclestone believes that the 2026 world championship is already drifting away from George Russell. After Kimi Antonelli achieved a third consecutive victory from pole position in Miami, the young Italian now leads his more seasoned Mercedes teammate by 20 points. Ecclestone, the former long-time F1 chief, thinks that the momentum has shifted significantly. "The season is still in its early stages, but at this point, Antonelli has the momentum to build on his lead over Russell," the 95-year-old stated to Swiss newspaper Blick. "Either Antonelli or Verstappen will be the world champion."
Ecclestone is also reconsidering his stance on Max Verstappen following Red Bull's impressive resurgence in Miami. "Red Bull seems to have turned around its slump," he commented. "Max has found his spark again - and when that happens, he becomes a serious threat."
Despite Antonelli’s remarkable start, Mercedes chief Toto Wolff continues to publicly support Russell. When asked by La Gazzetta dello Sport about Russell’s challenging start to the season, Wolff attributed it to a combination of misfortune and errors. "What we appreciate about this sport is that the clock never lies at the end of the race," Wolff remarked. "And the clock indicates that Kimi rightfully won the last three Grands Prix."
"Russell hasn’t performed as well, partly due to team issues or bad luck, and in Miami due to his own mistakes." Nevertheless, Wolff maintains that Russell is still an integral part of Mercedes’ plans. "We recognize George’s talent, and we know he will come back, starting from Canada, highly competitive and poised to challenge his rivals."
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Ecclestone has already excluded Russell from the title contest.
Formula 1 | Bernie Ecclestone thinks that the 2026 world championship is already slipping out of George Russell's grasp. Following Kimi Antonelli's rise to third (…)