George Russell has revealed that he has been working with a sports psychologist since 2020, explaining how the specialist helps him maximise his performance, manage the pressure of Formula 1 and maintain confidence during difficult periods. The Mercedes driver has endured a challenging first half of the 2026 season, but stressed that his work with a psychologist is not something reserved only for moments when results are going against him.
George Russell’s difficult first half of the 2026 F1 season
With Formula 1 preparing to return at Zandvoort after the summer break, the opening half of the 2026 championship has not gone entirely according to plan for George Russell. The British driver has won twice, in Australia and Austria, but those successes have been overshadowed by the extraordinary form of Mercedes team-mate Kimi Antonelli and by reliability problems with the W17 that have resulted in two retirements.
Kimi Antonelli has won six races and leads the 2026 Formula 1 driver standings, while Lewis Hamilton sits second for Ferrari ahead of George Russell in third place.
That represents a very different situation from the one George Russell had hoped to find himself in when the season began. The Mercedes driver entered 2026 believing he could mount a serious challenge for his first World Championship, but his campaign has instead been complicated by reliability issues and the remarkable progress of his younger team-mate.
The pressure surrounding his season has inevitably increased, with recent analysis also examining why George Russell’s difficulties cannot be attributed solely to Mercedes.
George Russell has worked with a sports psychologist since 2020
Speaking to RacingNews365, the 28-year-old explained that psychological support has long been part of his approach to Formula 1 and is intended to improve much more than his ability to cope with difficult results.
“I’ve publicly spoken that I work with a sports psychologist whom I’ve worked with for a number of years,” George Russell explained. “I’ve been working with a sports psychologist since 2020. This was more to help me get the most out of myself – but also the people who I work with, how best to handle the pressures of a race weekend, or how best to handle my energy over the course of a season.”
The Mercedes driver stressed that seeing a psychologist should not automatically be interpreted as a response to a crisis.
“It isn’t necessarily to help in the really tough times. That’s a great help, but I’m very fortunate that I have a great group of people close to me. My girlfriend [now fiancée], Gwen Lagrue, Toto Wolff. These people have supported me.”
Russell uses past success to rebuild confidence
That support network has become particularly valuable during a season in which George Russell has had to contend with both technical setbacks and intense competition within Mercedes. The rise of Kimi Antonelli has created another major challenge, with the Italian establishing himself as the team’s leading championship contender.
George Russell nevertheless believes one of the most important mental tools is reminding himself of what he has already achieved throughout his career.
“This helps but it also helps to remember what you’re capable of. When I think of my career, I think of my successes; I remember what I can do. That gives me the belief and faith.”
His position remains far from hopeless, but Mercedes knows reliability will be crucial during the second half of the year. The team has already acknowledged the significance of the points lost through technical problems, while Mercedes has highlighted how reliability could influence both 2026 championships.
For George Russell, the work with a sports psychologist is therefore not simply about recovering from disappointing weekends. It forms part of a broader approach designed to manage pressure, use energy effectively across a long Formula 1 season and retain confidence when circumstances become more difficult.
With the championship resuming at Zandvoort, the Briton will now try to turn that approach into stronger results and reduce the gap to both Lewis Hamilton and Kimi Antonelli. The latest developments around his campaign can also be followed through the George Russell section.
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