Russell’s 2026 title hopes hinge on this, says Ecclestone

The former Formula 1 supremo admitted that the Mercedes team has the edge over the field based on his expectations for the 2026 season, before stressing Russell must show he boasts the killer instinct throughout the entirety of the season if he wants to win the drivers’ title.

"Mercedes has the edge. Russell has the ability, but he needs to show that killer instinct throughout the entire season. A team with Mercedes engines has a good chance of winning the World Championship,” Ecclestone said to Sports.de.

The 95-year-old, however, wants anything but a straight championship fight, expressing his hope that the Scuderia Ferrari team will have a say in the championship battle—something he stresses will benefit the sport as multiple teams battle for the title.

"Watch out for Ferrari. I hope Ferrari has a say in the matter. Formula 1 would benefit if Ferrari became world champion,” he added.

Predictions for the 2026 drivers’ championship have continued to gradually surface, with the new season on the horizon. Only recently did the former Williams Racing icon, Riccardo Patrese, back Max Verstappen to win the drivers’ crown.

Earlier, Lando Norris backed Russell to someday win the drivers’ championship. The reigning world champion stressed his confidence that the Mercedes driver has the ability to win a championship.

Norris, who described his fellow Brit as ‘giddy,’ however, stressed he wasn’t going to back down from a championship fight despite winning the 2025 crown.

Russell beat Norris to the title in the Formula 2 title in 2018. Russell also came out on top when the two British drivers raced in the GP3 series in 2017.