F1 star George Russell has insisted Mercedes will be looking into things after the Miami Grand Prix, where he maintained he was at a disadvantage.
George Russell has called on [Mercedes-AMG Petronas Formula One Team] to conduct a thorough performance review following a challenging weekend at the Miami Grand Prix, where his teammate Andrea Kimi Antonelli continued his remarkable rise.
Russell entered the new Formula 1 regulations era as the early title favourite after a commanding victory at the season-opening Australian Grand Prix. That win placed him firmly at the top of the championship standings and signaled Mercedes’ strong intent for the season.
However, momentum quickly shifted. At the Chinese Grand Prix, Antonelli struck back, outperforming his more experienced teammate and beginning a run of performances that would ultimately see him seize control of the championship. By the time the grid reached the Japanese Grand Prix in March, the teenage sensation had made history as the youngest championship leader Formula 1 has ever seen.
Antonelli’s form has only intensified since then. His victory in Miami marked a third consecutive win, underlining both his consistency and adaptability across circuits. Yet the weekend wasn’t entirely smooth for Mercedes. Following a five-week break in the calendar, rivals returned with significant upgrades, putting added pressure on the Silver Arrows.
Even Antonelli admitted earlier in the weekend that the team was not entirely comfortable, noting after sprint qualifying that performance had dipped compared to previous rounds.
For Russell, the gap to his teammate raised questions. He attributed some of his struggles to the specific demands of the Miami circuit, arguing that his typically “smooth and precise” driving style was ill-suited to the track’s low-grip conditions. Still, that explanation has not gone unchallenged.
Former Formula 1 driver Juan Pablo Montoya publicly questioned Russell’s reasoning, suggesting the Briton could instead learn from Antonelli’s adaptability and approach.
Speaking after the race, Russell pushed back against doubts over his form. The 28-year-old emphasized that his confidence remains intact and insisted that his recent dip is not due to a loss of ability.
“He is a fantastic driver and has been exceptionally quick since day one,” Russell said of Antonelli. “He’s won everything as a youngster. But I’ve been there too. I’ve not forgotten how to drive.”
Despite finishing fourth — a result helped in part by late-race drama involving Charles Leclerc — Russell described Miami as a historically difficult circuit for him and acknowledged that the team must dig deeper to understand its performance limitations.
With the season still in its early stages, Russell remains optimistic but clear-eyed about the challenge ahead. He stressed that Mercedes cannot afford complacency as the competition intensifies.
“We are only a few races in, and there’s a long way to go,” he said. “But we need to reassess everything over the next few weeks.”
Attention now turns to the upcoming Canadian Grand Prix, where Mercedes will hope that any insights gained from their internal review translate into improved pace and perhaps a renewed challenge for the championship lead.