David Coulthard, former F1 star, hailed George Russell for openly acknowledging teammate Kimi Antonelli’s superior form.
Antonelli clinched his eighth win of the year at the debut Spanish Grand Prix on the new Madring track, pushing his lead to 81 points over Russell, who finished fifth.
The Brit entered the Australian opener as a title favourite, yet after triumphs in Melbourne and the China sprint, his championship hopes faded as Antonelli kept winning.
On the Up To Speed podcast, 13‑time winner Coulthard praised Russell’s frank media comments about his teammate out‑performing him.
Coulthard noted the car now favors Lewis Hamilton over Charles Leclerc, mirroring this season’s shift; for my money, Russell will soon reclaim his edge.
He added that Oscar Piastri has slipped behind Lando Norris, who led the standings until Baku last year, illustrating the formula’s constant ebb and flow.
George Russell, Mercedes
Kimi is hitting his stride while George feels the pressure, yet Russell appears to have accepted the reality and is answering media queries.
In a weekend chat with Martin Brundle, he admitted, ‘Kimi is simply doing a better job than me right now,’ a rare display of humility.
Many would whisper the same, but drivers often hide behind excuses; I still back George—he’s young, his championship may slip now, but his moment will arrive.
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– The Team