BAKU — George Russell claimed his third victory of the 2026 Formula 1 campaign at Saturday's Azerbaijan Grand Prix, earning his first career grand slam by leading every lap on the wind-swept streets of Baku. The Mercedes driver controlled the race from start to finish, turning a demanding street circuit into a statement win that meant more than the milestone alone.
Russell described the result as rejuvenating after a character-building spell of six winless weekends alongside younger teammate Kimi Antonelli. The stretch tested his resolve at Mercedes and made doubt tempting during a run without a win. “It would have been very easy for me to lose the faith,” Russell said, framing Baku as a reset after weeks of pressure.
Beyond the grand slam statistic, the victory ended the drought and restored momentum on a weekend where Mercedes had already shown strong pace in challenging wind. The breakthrough followed Russell topping Antonelli as Mercedes dominated Baku practice and re-established Russell at the front as the 2026 season continues.