George Russell expresses newfound confidence as he aims to close the gap on his team-mate Kimi Antonelli in the championship standings during the upcoming Bahrain Grand Prix in Malaysia. After securing his third victory of the season in Azerbaijan, Russell feels he has finally grasped how to master the Mercedes car.

Russell currently trails Antonelli by 66 points, with potentially up to eight races remaining in the season. He states, "The thing that's changed is I feel my performances are strong enough to fight for victory week in week out," emphasizing his rejuvenated mindset.

Key points from Russell's remarks include:

• Acknowledgment of previous struggles with performance
• Confidence returning and growing, allowing for a more natural driving style
• Optimism about the upcoming race and the impact of a significant car upgrade

Mercedes anticipates a tough challenge from McLaren at the Sepang track, which may favor their car's characteristics. Russell maintains that despite the championship deficit, he feels ready to compete for wins consistently:

I feel more at one with the car and hopefully this upgrade will play into my favour a bit more. So bring it on.

In contrast, Antonelli reflects on a challenging weekend in Baku, where a crash in qualifying placed him 16th on the grid. He recovered to finish fifth, but acknowledged it was not his best performance of the season. Antonelli stated, "I wasn't happy after the race but I learned the most important learning was I need to be always 100% because if I don't try to do everything right in my power then nothing is going to come my way."

As the Bahrain Grand Prix approaches, both drivers prepare for a critical race that could shape the championship dynamics.