Once tipped as title favourite, George Russell hits US Grand Prix qualifying at COTA hunting momentum and a win or two to salvage his 2026.
Qualifying for the United States Grand Prix gets under way at the Circuit of the Americas at 4pm local time in Austin, 10pm BST. One of the biggest storylines in the paddock is George Russell, whose season has been nothing like the script.
Back in Australia, where the campaign began, plenty of people had Russell pegged as a first-time world champion in waiting. He took the win there, the eighth of his career, in a new-generation Mercedes that looked like the quickest car on the grid. Everything pointed to 2026 being his breakout year.
It hasn't played out that way. Russell now enters the closing stretch of the season well behind his own teammate in the standings, and the frustration has been building. The title dream has faded, and the focus has shifted to damage limitation: grabbing a victory or two and building momentum for 2027.
Russell himself has admitted that the year has pushed his character and resilience to the limit. Austin gives him a fresh chance to answer, and a strong qualifying lap would be the first step. A front-row start at COTA could change the tone of his season, and the pressure is on from the first run in Q1.
