George Russell wants to "give the 2026 F1 cars a chance"

In response to strong criticism from Max Verstappen, to the reserves of Fernando Alonso or even to the questions of Lewis HamiltonGeorge Russell adopts a more measured stance regarding the F1 2026. When questioned after the first test runs, the Briton refused to make any premature judgment. "I think it's a step forward and I always like to give things a chance.""He told the media that it's pointless to draw definitive conclusions after only a few days of testing, especially since this technical framework is intended to last for several seasons."

"We are only four days away from regulations that will last more than three years, and the progress everyone will make in these first few months will be massive. The cars are much more pleasant to drive."he insisted, highlighting the still considerable room for development. The pilot Mercedes Benz highlights in particular the benefits linked to the revised size of the single-seaters, which are more compact and lighter. "I had only driven the smaller generation of F1 cars twice, and I couldn't believe how much more agile the car felt being lighter and narrower. So this is very positive."

George Russell does not deny the complexity of the new engine kit. "The engines are very complex and, to be honest, they probably cause more headaches for the engineers than for the drivers."He acknowledges the technical challenge of balancing thermal and electrical power. He also calls for caution when assessing energy performance, as the initial tests were conducted on relatively forgiving test tracks. "So I don't want to say anything too early before going to circuits like Melbourne or Jeddah, because it will be much harder on the engines and energy once we're there."

"That's probably the only thing that's quite annoying."

One of the most sensitive points concerns the obligation to maintain a high engine speed in corners, which changes habits in slow corners. “Here in Bahrain, the first corner is usually taken in third gear. Now, we have to shift into first to keep the engine revs very high. Sometimes it feels like we’re using the handbrake when we have to downshift so much.”, he explains.

While he admits that this characteristic may be surprising, he puts its importance into perspective within the overall picture. "That's probably the only thing that's quite annoying and unintuitive." On the other hand, he sees no room for debate regarding pure performance: “We cannot dispute the power we possess when we benefit from "Full 350 kW units. I also think this will progress significantly in the coming months, so we need to give it time."

ALSO READ > Norris responds to Verstappen's criticism of the new F1 cars: "If he wants to retire, he can."

George Russell implicitly places the discussion in a broader context. He points out that Formula 1 has to deal with industrial and political issues, notably the move towards electrification which has facilitated the arrival of new manufacturers.  Without directly targeting his rivals, the Briton believes that no single regulation can satisfy all expectations: those of drivers seeking speed, those of engineers facing unprecedented technological challenges, and those of an ever-growing public. At a time when opinions are divided, he prefers to stick to a pragmatic approach: judging based on results, and above all, over time.