Russell bemoans back luck that has cost him victories this season as pressure builds

The Mercedes driver has endured a frustrating run of setbacks this season, including reliability issues, unfortunate Safety Car timing and the pit lane infringement controversy that left him furious after the race. While the Briton admits the championship picture currently looks bleak, he remains convinced that his performances have deserved significantly greater rewards.

Reflecting on the season so far, Russell argued that bad luck has masked what he considers to be one of the strongest periods of driving of his Formula 1 career.

Russell acknowledged that he would likely still trail teammate Kimi Antonelli in the standings, but insisted the overall picture would be completely different without the setbacks he has endured.

The 28-year-old pointed to a number of incidents he believes have cost him heavily in the championship battle.

Russell also revealed he has sought perspective away from the racetrack, working with his performance psychologist and drawing inspiration from sporting greats who faced difficult periods during their careers.

The Mercedes driver recently watched documentaries on Rafael Nadal and Ronaldinho, saying they reminded him that even elite athletes experience setbacks and adversity.

Despite his frustration, Russell appears to have adopted a more relaxed mindset heading into the next phase of the season.

Rather than obsessing over the title fight, Russell says his focus is simply on driving instinctively and rediscovering the confidence that helped produce some of the strongest performances of his career.

With more than three-quarters of the season still remaining, the Mercedes driver knows plenty can change. But for now, Russell believes his priority is straightforward: enjoy racing again and let the results take care of themselves.