Photo: Race Pictures

Russell keeps door open for surprise team in 2026 fight: 'You can't discount'

15:30, 06 Feb

Updated: 16:05, 06 Feb

bySamson Ero

George Russell has refrained from ruling out any team when discussing the potential challengers to Formula 1’s established front-runners.

“You can't discount what you've seen from Aston Martin.”

- George Russell

The Mercedes driver, who weighed in on the competition at the top of the Formula 1 field ahead of the upcoming season, highlighted the Aston Martin team, which he expects to be competitive this year.

Russell also emphasised the impact of Adrian Newey at the team and how spectacular the AMR26 car looks.

“I think, at the moment, it does look like Red Bull, McLaren, Ferrari, and ourselves are, let's say, the four teams that are all quite close to one another. But you can't discount what you've seen from Aston Martin, you know, and what Adrian [Newey] has done with that car—it looks pretty spectacular,” Russell said to GPblog and other selected media.

George Russell - Photo: Mercedes-AMG F1 Team

Russell also highlighted the role of Aston Martin’s engine supplier, Honda, whose power units have proven highly competitive in recent years with Red Bull, which he believes will be integral to the competitiveness of the Aston Martin team.

“Honda, over the past few years with Red Bull, have had a very good engine beneath them. So we also know what they're capable of. That would be awesome to see a big fight. I remember that was 2010 or 2012, I think, when you had McLaren, Fernando, and the Red Bulls all fighting. That's what the sport is about, and that's what we hope it will be about this year,” Russell concluded.

The Aston Martin AMR26 challenger has continued to turn heads across the F1 scene, with its design approach, described by Newey himself as aggressive, drawing particular attention.