George Russell’s Bad Luck in 2026: How Many Points Has He Lost to Antonelli?
**George Russell has lost at least 12 points in 2026 due to bad luck, with Kimi Antonelli’s 25-point lead now widening after the Italian’s near-win at Silverstone. The Brit’s struggles in Canada and Monaco compound his recent setbacks, but a deeper look reveals how much of his season has been stolen by fortune-not pace.**",
"## **How did Russell’s points disappear in 2026?**
Russell’s season started strong with a **win in Australia (13 Mar)** and **second in China (6 Apr)**, but his points tally has stagnated. In **Canada (10 Jun)**, he failed to score after a collision with Lance Stroll, while **Monaco (24 Jun)** saw him finish **11th** after a slow start. These two races alone cost him **10 points**-a gap Antonelli hasn’t matched in misfortune.
**## Why Antonelli’s bad luck is different-and more costly**
Antonelli’s **25-point lead** stems from **two high-profile near-wins turned to dust**. At **Silverstone (1 Jul)**, a **broken tyre shield** after cutting corners dropped him from **P2 to outside the points**, a **15-point loss** if he’d finished **P1**. Earlier in **Barcelona (26 May)**, a **10-second penalty** for a collision with Isack Hadjar cost him **P1 in the sprint race**, another **6 points** that could have closed the gap.
**## The Japan safety car that stole Russell’s potential victory**
The **Japanese Grand Prix (22 Apr)** was the turning point. A **safety car** deployed *after* Russell’s pit stop gave Antonelli a **free pit window**, allowing the Italian to overtake him. Russell finished **4th**-**6 points short of a win**-while Antonelli took **P1**. Had the safety car come *before* Russell’s stop, he might have led the race. **GPblog’s analysis** suggests this alone cost him **10 points** in lost opportunities.
**## Where Russell’s conservative driving hurt him most**
In **Australia**, Russell **led comfortably** before Antonelli’s late charge. Yet the Brit **held back**, finishing **P1 while Antonelli took P2**. No points were lost, but **Russell’s conservative approach**-likely to preserve tyres-meant he didn’t maximize his advantage. **Antonelli’s pace was stronger in the closing laps**, proving Russell’s caution may have been a strategic misstep.
**## The sprint race where Russell’s qualifying woes backfired**
The **Chinese Grand Prix sprint (5 Apr)** saw Russell **P2 in qualifying** but **P5 in the sprint** after a **10-second penalty** for a collision with Hadjar. In the main race, he **recovered to P2**, but the **sprint loss was a 6-point hit**. Antonelli, meanwhile, **won the sprint**-a **9-point gain**-before finishing **P1 in the race**. **Russell’s qualifying struggles** cost him **15 points total** in China, while Antonelli capitalized.
**## What’s next for Russell after these setbacks?**
With **three races left**, Russell’s bad luck could reverse-or worsen. His **Mercedes team** has been tight-lipped, but **technical upgrades** at the **Hungarian Grand Prix (20 Jul)** may help. If Antonelli’s luck runs out, Russell’s **raw pace** could reassert itself. **But for now, the points gap is real-and growing.**