Russell vows to keep fighting after topping practice in Baku despite Antonelli lead

George Russell vowed on 24 September 2026 in Baku to keep fighting for the Formula One world championship after posting the fastest time in practice for this weekend’s Azerbaijan Grand Prix, with the race scheduled for Saturday; he goes into the event 81 points behind his Mercedes team-mate Kimi Antonelli.

Antonelli has eight victories this season, including the past two in a row, having won from 19th on the grid in Monza and then taken the flag in Madrid; there are nine meetings remaining with a potential 233 points still available and the Baku race has been scheduled for Saturday to avoid clashing with Azerbaijan’s national remembrance day.

Russell, who the article says has maintained the stoical and determined attitude he has demonstrated all season, said in Baku: "I’m going to keep fighting at every single race until it’s mathematically impossible." He added: "I want to try and win every single race and put it on pole at every single race. That’s my goal and that’s what I’m working towards every single weekend." He also said: "There’s obviously a huge [points] deficit but it’s not even really a consideration right now. I’m in this position because the performance hasn’t been strong enough."

The Qatar and Abu Dhabi rounds remain under threat because of the war in the Middle East and, if both races are cancelled, it is understood they would be replaced by one round at Imola, reducing the total by 25 points. F1’s current position is that the races in Qatar and Abu Dhabi will go ahead, with a final decision now expected in mid-October after the current triple header of races in Baku, Malaysia and Singapore. Mattia Binotto, the Audi team principal confirmed that this was the latest the sport could leave it for logistical reasons. "As we discussed during the F1 Commission last Monday, mid-October is the last call for such a decision," he said. "The main challenges are more organisation and logistics."

If all nine remaining races take place Antonelli would still take the title if he is 100 points ahead in Mexico or 75 clear in Brazil. The report states that after the decision the mathematics will at least be clear.

Russell opened the weekend by going quickest in first practice while Antonelli lost half his run time with a hydraulic problem. Mercedes were again on top in the afternoon on the energy-starved street circuit, which the article says plays to their car’s strengths in energy harvesting and deployment; Russell was quickest again, a full half a second up on Antonelli, with Red Bull’s Max Verstappen third, eight-tenths back.

A final decision on the Qatar and Abu Dhabi races is expected in mid-October after the triple-header in Baku, Malaysia and Singapore, and that ruling will determine whether the points total available in the title fight is reduced.