Russell doubles down on F1 regulation stance before Miami GP

The British driver, who sits second in the drivers’ standings behind Mercedes teammate Kimi Antonelli, said he does not agree with the widespread complaints about the current rules. Russell stressed that he is particularly enjoying the current generation of power units and believes they have added a new dynamic to racing. However, the 28-year-old admitted there is still room for refinement, suggesting only minor adjustments are needed to fully optimise the regulations.

“I definitely don't share that at all,” he says. “I'm personally really enjoying the car. The power unit and the engine are definitely different. And it just needs some fine-tuning to really optimise it. But it's given an opportunity to battle harder, and back-and-forth racing,” Russell said via the BBC.

The Mercedes driver went on to argue that critics of the regulations are mistaken, while also crediting the FIA for working to eliminate what he described as quirks within the current ruleset.

“Anybody who thinks drivers are going slow in corners to be faster on the straights are wrong. There are some small quirks, which the FIA have done their best to eradicate. These are details that are sort of so complicated, and honestly, fans don't really need to understand. From this race forward, with these minor changes the sport are making, it will make our life easier. We'll be flat out on the straights in a qualifying lap, and we won't have to lift off to manage any of the energy,” he concluded.

Amid the flurry of differing opinions that continues to emerge regarding the current regulations, the FIA recently rolled out a series of changes set to be implemented from the Miami Grand Prix. These changes span races, qualifying, and the race start sequence.

Earlier, Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff outlined what he describes as Mercedes’ clear internal “rules of racing” for its drivers, as both Kimi Antonelli and George Russell prepare to fight for the 2026 drivers’ championship.

The Mercedes team principal, keen to avoid a repeat of the tensions seen between Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg, stressed that both Antonelli and Russell must first and foremost be allowed to race freely, without unnecessary interference. However, he also underlined that both drivers must remain aligned with the values of the Mercedes team.

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