Russell says Mercedes must improve upgrades with six races left
NXTbets Pro | Published On: October 18, 2026
Russell wants upgrades
George Russell said Mercedes needs to sharpen its recent upgrades with six race weekends left and a title double still in reach. The team has built a huge points cushion, but Russell made clear the development path has to improve if Mercedes wants to keep its title challenge on course. Mercedes won 11 of the first 17 races, and the team has stayed ahead of the field. Russell and Kimi Antonelli have combined for 11 Grand Prix wins and four sprint race victories, a mark that explains why Mercedes remains in control of both championships. Russell’s message was direct. The upgrades have to get better, and the team has to keep pushing the car forward rather than relying on what it has already banked.
That demand comes after a stretch in which Mercedes did not get the same results from every update. The new package struggled in Malaysia, and Russell switched back to the previous specification in Singapore. Antonelli kept the updates, a split approach that showed the team was still sorting through the best direction. He won the Azerbaijan Grand Prix in Baku, his third victory of the season, and he has still watched Antonelli outperform him individually across much of the year. That gap has not changed the bigger picture for Mercedes, but it has made Russell’s upgrade concerns more pointed. With the schedule moving toward the final run of races, he wants the car to keep improving instead of leveling off.
Antonelli title path
Kimi Antonelli is the likeliest title winner, and Mercedes could see him clinch his first world title in Austin. He leads Russell by 102 points in the drivers’ standings, a margin that gives him control of the chase and puts Mercedes in position to claim another major prize from within the garage. His points lead over Russell is large enough to shape the final stretch of the year, and Mercedes has built its campaign around that advantage. The team’s internal battle has still been close enough to matter. Russell has delivered race wins, but Antonelli remains in the strongest position to finish the season with the drivers’ crown.
That title path also fits the way Mercedes has managed its season. Antonelli kept the update package in Singapore while Russell stepped back to the older spec, and that choice reflected a team willing to split strategy when needed. The result is a season in which one driver is leading the standings and the other is still adding victories. Antonelli’s chance to close the deal in Austin gives Mercedes a realistic shot at a double celebration, even if the teams’ championship takes longer to settle. The drivers’ title is the one that can move first, and Antonelli is the man in the strongest position to finish it.
Mercedes points picture
Mercedes leads Ferrari by 134 points in the constructors’ championship, and 258 points are still available. That gap leaves Mercedes in command, but it does not end the race. Ferrari remains the only realistic challenger for the teams’ title, and Mercedes may have to wait longer before it can seal the championship. Brazil looks like the most likely place for the team to officially secure it, even if Mercedes has a strong weekend in Mexico City before then. McLaren and Red Bull are expected to be out of the title fight after Austin, which would leave Mercedes and Ferrari as the last teams standing in the constructors’ race. The math is simple. Mercedes has the lead, Ferrari has the last credible path, and the remaining schedule gives both teams enough chances for the picture to change before the trophy is handed over.
Russell’s warning lands in that context. Mercedes is on course for a double championship, but the final months will still demand sharp execution. Max Verstappen and Red Bull have emerged as the strongest team over the last two races, a reminder that momentum can change quickly at the top of the grid. Mercedes cannot afford to let its recent upgrade steps stall if it wants to keep control of both titles. The early run of wins has given it room to breathe. Russell knows that margin is useful, but he also knows it can disappear if the car stops moving forward. That is why the message from within Mercedes is clear. Keep improving the package, protect the points lead and let the championship math work in the team’s favor.
