Norris's message to drivers unhappy with their cars: adapt. His call comes amid claims Mercedes machine does not suit George Russell.

Kimi Antonelli can clinch the drivers' championship on Sunday after a stunning season in which he turned the tables on pre-season favourite and team-mate Russell.

His ninth win of the season came last weekend in Austin, moving the Italian to within two points of becoming the youngest F1 champion in history.

Russell trudged home eighth in that Texas race.

After the round, Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff said the car “does not suit” Russell but that he would be back on song if the team could give him a machine more geared to his strengths.

Russell has admitted freely he has been outperformed by his young team-mate but, ahead of this weekend's round in Mexico, explained why elements of the sport's new regulations for 2026 have not suited him.

The 28-year-old said his driving style is heavier on the rear tyres on the 2026 cars, also adding: “There's just a few factors with the cars this year that potentially favour or hinder a certain driving style.

“I’m on the throttle earlier than most. With these new power units, that means I’m spending more energy, and it’s sometimes not the most efficient way to drive for the power unit.”

Antonelli has six more wins than Russell this season.

At McLaren, a similar picture has emerged, with Norris faring far better than team-mate Oscar Piastri.

But reigning champion Norris is not a believer in cars suiting certain drivers, placing the responsibility on those behind the wheel to adjust their approach.

Put to him that a driver such as Russell may be behind his team-mate until the next regulation change in the 2030s, Norris said: “You can still try and do a better job. Every driver can always try and do a better job.

“If I get told, ‘Lando you can have a car that can win the World Championship, but you have to figure out your driving a little bit more. Or you’re not going to win a World Championship, but you’re happy in the car’.

“Which one are you going to choose? They (Mercedes) have a driver that can win a World Championship. They’re not going to start making it differently, are they?”

Norris is set to become a former world champion on Sunday as the 20-year-old Antonelli steps into his shoes.

The 26-year-old overcame a deficit to Piastri to claim his maiden championship last season and says he had to change the way he drives to get on top of his McLaren.

“For me, to keep it as simple as I can, I always think if my team-mate has beaten me in a car, I haven’t done a good enough job,” Norris said.

“I've never blamed my equipment. I always look at myself first.

“I just had to change what I was comfortable doing. I had to change my expectation.

“I had to change what felt good versus what didn’t feel good. For me, that’s always been the expectation every year. It’s not, my way should be the way.”

Russell concedes he has endured the most difficult season of his career in the year he needed to deliver, having been given a championship-winning car for the first time.

The British driver admits feeling “bruised” by the experience.

“Naturally yes, but bruises recover. That is the thing with bruises,” he said.

“This year there have been a lot more bad days than good days. My first bad year, my first proper bad year, has come this year. I don't have an answer for it. It's not pressure.

“If you are a baseball player you are either hitting a home run or you are missing the ball, and that is how it feels right now.”

Russell's season has been defined by the contrast with Antonelli, who stands two points from history.