George Russell is "past the point of disappointment" following Hungarian Grand Prix issues

Russell was expecting to fight for his maiden Formula 1 Title in 2026, but issues with his Mercedes power unit software as well as the emergence of Kimi Antonelli have derailed the Briton's campaign.

After recently suffering from software glitches that slowed him down on the straights, Russell revealed those issues were rectified ahead of the Hungarian Grand Prix.

But then he suffered an issue at the start of the race as his car stalled, dropping him to 18th as he went on to recover to seventh.

"I am past the point of disappointment now," the Briton lamented. "If I continue to be disappointed with everything that goes ​on, I will just be disappointed every day of the week.

“I have got to stay positive," Russell added. "My ​pace was as strong as anyone out there, and I haven’t been there for the ⁠past two or three races, so I will take the positives, but it is unbelievable the list of things ​that have gone wrong this season."

Revealing what happened with his start, Russell said: “I was on the throttle holding the revs, and four seconds before the lights went ‌out, the ⁠engines started revving all over the place—the engine wasn’t reacting to the throttle. It is a brand new engine. No idea.

“The problems are happening to me, but the whole team feels it, too, so they are as pissed off with it as I am," he lamented. "We are not the only ones, but it feels like it is ​happening substantially more to me ​than others.

"Hopefully it ⁠swings round. I don’t wish any bad luck on anyone, but I haven’t had a season like this in my entire career."

Russell concluded that he needed the summer break with Formula 1 scheduled to return in Zandvoort on August 21.

"I can’t be disappointed with things outside of my control. I usually don’t feel like ​I need a break, but this year I definitely feel like I do," Russell said. (Reporting by Agnes Carlier from Hungaroring)