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Martin Brundle has agreed with George Russell’s verdict regarding the Mercedes ace’s most recent comments on having to change his driving style to suit F1’s new ruleset.
The 2026 F1 championship hopeful has been enduring a tough campaign as of late. At the most recent round of racing in Belgium, Russell’s Grand Prix lasted just five corners, which handed title rival and Mercedes teammate Kimi Antonelli a 25-point swing in the title race.
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Talking of swings, Russell compared his transition into F1’s new era of technical regulations to golf, highlighting how he has had to amend his long-time driving style at the wheel of an F1 car to suit the demands of the 2026 challengers.
“I guess it’s like a golfer changing his swing – it’s probably going to take a small step backwards first, and then you relearn that new swing, and it’s better,” Russell told F1.com ahead of last weekend’s Belgian GP. “That feels a little bit where I’m at at the moment.”
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George Russell completely agrees with George Russell’s verdict on 2026 F1 rules
Iconic F1 pundit Martin Brundle wholeheartedly agrees with Russell’s verdict, noting the Briton’s golf analogy as the “best” way to sum up the transition that every driver on the grid has had to make.
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“I think they’re quirky cars to fully understand,” Brundle began ahead of Sky Sports F1’s coverage of FP1 at the Hungarian Grand Prix. “George summed it up best for me when he said it’s like a golfer having to learn a completely new swing.
“I think he’s got nothing to lose now, actually. He’s had so much bad luck and, you know, wrong place, wrong time, whatever it is. But I think he’ll come back really strong now. The team are going to find the issues.
“The biggest problem he’s got is that Kimi is so relentlessly fast and consistently fast. That’s what he’s got to work on now, because with the other stuff, there’s nothing he can do about it.”
Fortunately for Russell, he looks to have started the race weekend off in Budapest on the front foot over his less experienced teammate. Antonelli vacated his seat in FP1 for Frederik Vesti, and was nearly two seconds off the pace upon his return to the cockpit in FP2.
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Lando Norris has no sympathy for George Russell over having to change his driving style
While changing his driving style to suit the new crop of cars may be a first for Russell, Lando Norris responded to his compatriot’s comments by outlining how he has had to amend the way he goes racing with every passing year.
Speaking to the written media in Hungary, Norris said via Autosport: “I mean, I’ve had to change my driving style every single year of my life. I guess for him it’s worked for 20 years; for me it’s not worked.
“My driving style worked back in 2018 when I did my test year. That’s probably about it. Ever since then I’ve had to change.
“I think the more experience you have in Formula 1, the better equipped you should be. If you’re not ready to adapt to a different car, then you’re not at a good enough level.
“It’s our job, it’s what we’ve got paid millions to do. It’s to drive any car you get given, whether it’s a good one, a bad one, an easy one or a hard one. You have to do it,” the reigning world champion concluded.
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