11 Races, 11 Different Podiums: F1’s Wild 2026 Trend Continues as George Russell Celebrates Major Personal Milestone

11 Races, 11 Different Podiums: F1’s Wild 2026 Trend Continues as George Russell Celebrates Major Personal Milestone

Formula 1 has produced a remarkable statistic through the opening 11 races of the 2026 season, with no podium combination being repeated. Every Grand Prix has featured a different trio of drivers in the top three, beginning with George Russell, Kimi Antonelli and Charles Leclerc in Australia. The pattern continued through China, Japan, Miami, Canada, Monaco, Spain, Austria, Britain and Belgium before Lando Norris, Max Verstappen and Antonelli created another new combination in Hungary. The result is 11 different podium combinations from 11 races heading into the summer break.

The unusual sequence highlights how competitive and unpredictable the 2026 season has become, with Mercedes, Ferrari, McLaren and Red Bull drivers repeatedly sharing the podium in different combinations. Russell has already recorded victories in Australia and Austria, while Antonelli has collected multiple wins and Norris recently secured his breakthrough victory in Hungary. Russell has also experienced difficult moments during the campaign, including the complicated Monaco penalty incident and a Canadian retirement after leading the race. Sky Sports F1 pundit Martin Brundle previously urged the Mercedes driver to remain confident, saying: “George has to keep believing what comes around goes around.”

Away from Formula 1, Russell has been enjoying a major moment in his personal life with longtime partner Carmen Montero Mundt. The couple began dating in 2020 after being introduced by a mutual friend and have remained together for around six years. They were seen together at Wimbledon in July, sitting in the Royal Box at Centre Court after Russell finished second at the British Grand Prix. The relationship recently reached another milestone when Russell and Mundt announced their engagement on August 9, with congratulations coming from members of the F1 community, including Oscar Piastri and Carlos Sainz.

Formula 1 now returns at Zandvoort for the Dutch Grand Prix, where the Sprint format will provide another opportunity for the championship contenders to gain valuable points. With 11 completely different podium combinations already recorded, fans will be watching closely to see whether the remarkable trend finally ends or reaches 12.

Analysis

The 11 different podium combinations highlight just how competitive the 2026 F1 season has become. Mercedes, Ferrari, McLaren and Red Bull have all produced strong results, while multiple drivers have shown they can fight for victory. That unpredictability makes every qualifying session and race strategy increasingly important.

For George Russell and the other title contenders, consistency could ultimately decide the championship. Winning one race is valuable, but repeatedly scoring strong points may prove more important as the season progresses. With the second half still ahead, one mistake or breakthrough performance could significantly change the standings.

Source: GPblog; Motorsport.com; Tatler; People.