Barcelona [Spain], June 13: George Russell is determined to "get back into the groove" and banish the bad luck which has left his championship campaign in tatters.
The British driver has failed to score in the previous two rounds, his engine expiring in Montreal when battling Mercedes team-mate Kimi Antonelli for the race lead before a botched five-second penalty resulted in a drive-through in Monaco which saw him finish outside the points. That has left him a whopping 68 points adrift of runaway leader Antonelli, with the teenager claiming five wins in a row to take a firm grip on the title race.
Russell, who will start his 100th race for Mercedes this weekend, was adamant following his Monaco disappointment, which left him in a "weird state of mind", that his title hopes were not over.
He maintains that view and reflected again on misfortune that has cost him throughout the six race weekends so far.
"If it was just. if there was no luck either way, I would have been on the podium in Japan, either P1 or P2, I think I would have won in Canada and I probably would have finished third in Monaco," Russell said.
"For sure I don't think I'd be ahead of Kimi in the standings but we'd be right there and then it's a different story.
"I've definitely not given up on the championship. It's just something I'm not thinking about."
Alonso suggests F1 career will end after 2027 season
Spanish Formula One driver Fernando Alonso is set to retire from the sport by the end of 2027, if not before.
This is the last Barcelona race until 2028 given it will rotate with Spa in Belgium from next year. The double world champion, 44, does not think he will be back for in two years' time.
"It's going to be a special weekend. This is probably my last Barcelona race in Formula One, so I want to say thanks to everyone," the Aston Martin driver told a press conference on Thursday ahead of this weekend's grand prix.
"I'm just really going race by race. Until it's over, you're still in the fight because in this sport it does change very quick and it doesn't take a lot to swing."
Source: Qatar Tribune
