Russell’s Baku win revives Mercedes title fight
NXTbets Pro | Published On: September 30, 2026
Russell’s Baku Win
George Russell‘s dominant win in Baku tightened the Formula 1 championship chase and put Mercedes back under the spotlight heading into Sepang. Russell took the Azerbaijan Grand Prix from pole position, led every lap, set the fastest lap and held off Max Verstappen for the victory. It was his first win since Austria in late June, and it arrived at a key moment with eight rounds left and Kimi Antonelli still 66 points ahead in the standings. The result did more than stop the slide. It showed Russell can still control a race from the front. That kind of complete drive matters in a title battle, especially when the margin between the two Mercedes drivers remains large. Russell’s Baku performance also shifted attention back to Mercedes after a stretch in which Antonelli had carried the better momentum.
Antonelli’s Response
Antonelli still left Baku with a solid result, but fifth place told a different story from Russell’s day at the front. A technical problem in practice and a qualifying crash pushed him to 16th on the grid, and he had to recover through traffic to salvage points. It also came after Antonelli had beaten Russell in five consecutive Grands Prix before Azerbaijan, a run that had helped build his cushion in the championship. Now the balance has shifted. Russell said he needs a little more than eight points per round to close the gap, and his approach for the rest of the season is straightforward. He wants to win as many races as possible and let the points follow. Antonelli has his own response in mind. He said he would re-establish the order over Russell in Malaysia, a confident answer after Baku showed how quickly the momentum can change in Formula 1. The fight between the two Mercedes drivers has moved from steady control to a more volatile phase, with each race carrying more weight than the last. Russell’s win put pressure back on the standings, but Antonelli’s recovery in Baku showed he still has room to answer on track.
Sepang Challenge
Mercedes now turns to Sepang with its first major upgrade since Canada, and the timing adds another layer to the title fight between Russell and Antonelli. Formula 1 returns to Malaysia for the first time since 2017, and Sepang will be fresh ground for much of the field. Twelve of the 22 drivers, including both Mercedes drivers, have never raced there before. That lack of experience matters at a circuit known for extreme heat and high humidity. Thunderstorms are also possible, which raises the challenge even more. The new-generation cars remain untested in wet Sepang conditions, so the weekend could ask teams to solve more than one problem at once. Mercedes will want the upgrade to hold up in that environment, because the team needs pace as much as points. Russell arrives with renewed confidence after Baku, and Antonelli arrives looking to answer after a difficult qualifying run and a fifth-place finish. Sepang should test both drivers in a different way. Russell has the race-winning form. Antonelli has the points lead and the chance to reset the order. The conditions, the upgrade and the unfamiliar track all point to a weekend that could shape the rest of the season.
