Jolyon Palmer claims George Russell is not feeling title ‘pressure’ like Lando Norris did last year

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Jolyon Palmer has claimed that George Russell is currently not feeling the pressure of a Formula 1 title race like Lando Norris did last year.

Just three races into the 2026 F1 season, it appears that the world title will be heading to Mercedes, with Russell and Kimi Antonelli dominating the proceedings so far. 

Russell won the first race of the campaign in Australia but has since seen his teammate secure back-to-back victories in China and Japan.

As a result, Antonelli currently holds a nine-point lead at the top of the standings heading into this weekend’s Miami Grand Prix.

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George Russell not feeling ‘pressure’ of F1 title fight like Lando Norris did last year

Despite Russell trailing Antonelli, ex-F1 driver Palmer believes the Brit is still full of confidence and is not feeling the pressure just yet.

Palmer, who drove for Renault during his F1 career, also made a comparison to how Norris came across during his own title fight last year.

He said on the F1 Nation podcast: “I feel like there is a difference when I look at George compared to Lando last year. I think Lando felt like there was more pressure on his shoulders with just the way he was speaking, the way he was saying he’s not comfortable with the car.

“He arrived in China having won in Melbourne, but he was still saying, ‘I’m not feeling the love from the car’. George is shoulders back, he’s waltzing down the paddock, he is still, you know, the confident air in him.

“I think every time he turns up at the moment, he thinks he is going to win. It didn’t happen in Japan, but I don’t see yet him having any sort of pressure on his shoulders.

“Of course, it must be there, but I don’t see him, I don’t see that coming just after one weekend where he’s been categorically outpaced. Maybe it will come in a few races, but for now, I think he is still confident.”

READ MORE: Bradley Lord reveals how Mercedes feel about Kimi Antonelli and George Russell fighting for F1 title

George Russell ‘not thinking’ about world title amid fight with Kimi Antonelli

Russell came into the 2026 season as the heavy favourite to win the world title, and amid the fight with his teammate, he admitted that he is not thinking about the ‘big picture’.

The Brit stated that he is only thinking about executing each session when he gets into his car.

Russell said to the BBC’s Chequered Flag: “I was a bit surprised about that myself. I’m just going about my process day to day. Every time I get in a race car, I don’t think about the big picture, which is winning the championship.

“I just think about here in the moment, you know, going out and qualifying. How am I going to drive the fastest lap possible for the race? How am I going to get the best race start, the best race? Trying to stand on the top step (of the podium) and just go about my business like that.

“Of course, I know that we’re in this fight, but it’s not something that I’m even thinking about. Because I know to win the championship, you’ve just got to go through those processes.”

Russell may come across as very confident at the moment, but as the season continues and the title fight heats up, the Brit will for sure start feeling the pressure of potentially being the world champion.