George Russell Admits Mercedes Made “Wrong Decisions” After Returning to Pole Position in Barcelona
George Russell has acknowledged that mistakes in recent race weekends were partly caused by incorrect decisions made within his Mercedes team, after the Briton bounced back by claiming pole position at the Spanish Grand Prix.
Russell delivered a strong qualifying performance at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya, narrowly beating teammate Lewis Hamilton to take the top spot for the seventh round of the season. The Mercedes driver secured pole by just 0.064 seconds, marking his third front-row start of the 2026 campaign.
The result represented a major turnaround for Russell, who had struggled to match the pace of his rivals in recent events. After reflecting on those performances, the Briton admitted that he and his engineering team had made some poor calls that affected their competitiveness.
According to Russell, the difficulties experienced in previous races were not simply down to the car’s performance, but also the approach taken by the team. He accepted that some strategic and setup choices had not delivered the expected results, making the return to the front of the grid even more important.
The qualifying result also saw Russell gain a clear advantage over championship leader Kimi Antonelli, who has been one of the strongest performers this season. Antonelli could only manage third place on the grid in Barcelona, finishing around three tenths of a second behind Russell’s pole-winning time.
The close battle between the Mercedes teammates added further excitement, with Hamilton narrowly missing out on pole despite pushing Russell throughout the final qualifying session. The result highlighted Mercedes’ improved form after several weekends where they appeared to be behind their main rivals.
Russell said the team’s progress came from better preparation, improved communication and a clearer understanding of the car’s weaknesses. He believes the lessons learned from recent struggles helped Mercedes make the necessary adjustments ahead of the Spanish Grand Prix.
With Russell starting at the front and Antonelli close behind, Mercedes will be aiming for a strong race result in Barcelona. However, the team faces pressure to convert qualifying speed into championship points, especially with rivals ready to challenge over the full race distance.
Russell’s pole position could prove to be a turning point in his season, as the Briton looks to regain momentum and close the gap in the championship fight.