George Russell says he has nothing to lose and will go out and enjoy every race

However, the Briton is trying to play down the pressure and insists he can recover following this early season setback while insisting on having fun.

“It's just racing, that's how it goes,” he told the media in Monaco when discussing his Canadian Grand Prix DNF. “Sometimes it goes for you, sometimes it goes against you.

"Over the course of a season, usually these things balance themselves out, and if I can continue qualifying on pole, fighting for wins, and leading races, then the tide will turn, so I'm not too concerned.

“Of course, I would have loved to have won the race and continued to fight with Kimi, but here we are and we've still got 17 races to go," he added. “These things always balance themselves out at one point, and, as you say, I've got nothing to lose. I'm just going to go out and enjoy every race.

“It's still in my control," Russell insisted. "If you pole and win every single race from now until the end of the season, you'll win the championship. That is my goal. Of course, it was frustrating in Canada, but that's part of racing. It can't always be sunshine and glory.”

Russell was hoping to be fighting for his maiden F1 Title in 2026 given Mercedes' dominant W17, but Antonelli's form has put a spanner in the works for him, but he insists history has shown that Championships have been won despite bad luck or breakdowns.

Russell explained: “When I've looked at it and looked over championships in the past, I don't think there's ever been a season where the winner hasn't had some form of bad luck at one point. Even Lando [Norris] last year broke down in Zandvoort and was disqualified in Las Vegas.

“[There have been] other drivers in other seasons—Max [Verstappen] in 2021; his tyre blew out in Azerbaijan. There's always something at some point that goes against you as a driver.

“I've had it once or twice already this season. Maybe that's the last of it, and it all swings around, but there's plenty of opportunities remaining, and I'm just feeling good that I ticked every box possible in Canada.

"I did everything that I could have, and if I continue like that, all to play for," he maintained.

Mercedes are expected to face a tough challenge in Monaco from Ferrari, whose SF-26 seems to have a nimble chassis that will compensate for its lack of power compared to the W17.

Russell commented: “It's clear a big part of our advantage compared to Ferrari has been in the power unit, and in Monaco, because there are not many straights, the power unit advantage is substantially less.

“We know Charles [Leclerc] especially, but Ferrari [as a team] have always been very strong here. We expect them to be probably the fastest this weekend, but I hope I'm wrong.

"I still believe we have the best car, but Monaco has always been a strong circuit for Ferrari and maybe not so strong for Mercedes.

“I remember in 2021, Leclerc was on pole when the car was not so strong, and also in 2024 and 2025 he was on the front row.

"We’ll be in the fight, but it won’t be as smooth sailing as the last races," the 28-year-old concluded. (Reporting by Agnes Carlier)