George Russell has lost at least 12 points in 2026 due to bad luck, with Kimi Antonelli’s 25-point lead now widening after the Italian’s near-win at Silverstone. The Brit’s struggles in Canada and Monaco compound his recent setbacks, but a deeper look reveals how much of his season has been stolen by fortune—not pace.",
"## How did Russell’s points disappear in 2026?
Russell’s season started strong with a win in Australia (13 Mar) and second in China (6 Apr), but his points tally has stagnated. In Canada (10 Jun), he failed to score after a collision with Lance Stroll, while Monaco (24 Jun) saw him finish 11th after a slow start. These two races alone cost him 10 points—a gap Antonelli hasn’t matched in misfortune.
## Why Antonelli’s bad luck is different—and more costly
Antonelli’s 25-point lead stems from two high-profile near-wins turned to dust. At Silverstone (1 Jul), a broken tyre shield after cutting corners dropped him from P2 to outside the points, a 15-point loss if he’d finished P1. Earlier in Barcelona (26 May), a 10-second penalty for a collision with Isack Hadjar cost him P1 in the sprint race, another 6 points that could have closed the gap.
## The Japan safety car that stole Russell’s potential victory
The Japanese Grand Prix (22 Apr) was the turning point. A safety car deployed *after* Russell’s pit stop gave Antonelli a free pit window, allowing the Italian to overtake him. Russell finished 4th—6 points short of a win—while Antonelli took P1. Had the safety car come *before* Russell’s stop, he might have led the race. GPblog’s analysis suggests this alone cost him 10 points in lost opportunities.
## Where Russell’s conservative driving hurt him most
In Australia, Russell led comfortably before Antonelli’s late charge. Yet the Brit held back, finishing P1 while Antonelli took P2. No points were lost, but Russell’s conservative approach—likely to preserve tyres—meant he didn’t maximize his advantage. Antonelli’s pace was stronger in the closing laps, proving Russell’s caution may have been a strategic misstep.
## The sprint race where Russell’s qualifying woes backfired
The Chinese Grand Prix sprint (5 Apr) saw Russell P2 in qualifying but P5 in the sprint after a 10-second penalty for a collision with Hadjar. In the main race, he recovered to P2, but the sprint loss was a 6-point hit. Antonelli, meanwhile, won the sprint—a 9-point gain—before finishing P1 in the race. Russell’s qualifying struggles cost him 15 points total in China, while Antonelli capitalized.
## What’s next for Russell after these setbacks?
With three races left, Russell’s bad luck could reverse—or worsen. His Mercedes team has been tight-lipped, but technical upgrades at the Hungarian Grand Prix (20 Jul) may help. If Antonelli’s luck runs out, Russell’s raw pace could reassert itself. But for now, the points gap is real—and growing.