David Kirouac-Imagn Images
Entering the 2026 Formula 1 season, things looked all laid out for 28-year-old British star George Russell to win his championship in the series.
Russell’s team, Mercedes, entered the year and the new set of regulations with a car that appeared far superior to the rest of the grid. And the seven-year veteran seemingly had a major leg up in both pace and experience over 19-year-old teammate Kimi Antonelli, who is just in his second season in F1.
However, through five races, things haven’t exactly gone according to plan for Russell. After winning the opening race of the season in Australia, Russell has not yet won again and recently had to retire from the Canadian Grand Prix due to an undiagnosed engine issue.
Antonelli, meanwhile, finished as the runner-up to Russell in Australia and then went on to win the next four races in a row, including the Canadian Grand Prix.
Now, the Italian wonder kid holds a 43-point lead over Russell entering the Monaco Grand Prix, and it appears Russell is resorting to some underhanded tactics to try to rattle his young teammate.
George Russell Puts All The Pressure On Kimi Antonelli With Comments
While there are still 17 races remaining in the season, more than enough time for Russell to rebound, he was asked if he’s beginning to feel the pressure of a title fight mounting as the two prepare to race on the famed streets of Monaco.
Russell, however, doesn’t see it that way. In fact, he says that it’s Antonelli who should be feeling pressure.
“I don’t think I’ve got anything to lose, really. I feel I’m still going with that same mindset, that if I look at it from my competitor’s [Antonelli’s] position, you’re kind of in a position now that you’ve got such a buffer, it feels like you can only keep it or you can only lose it. I think it’s his to lose.” Russell told members of the media.
But Antonelli wasn’t having it.
“No, to be fair, I don’t really give way to that line, because it’s so early in the season, still 17 more races left and it’s still very, very early to think or talk about the championship,” he replied when asked about Russell’s viewpoint.
“I try to do my best. Whenever I go in the car, I try to maximise the result, and then we’ll see where we end up at the end of the season. But I also think it’s difficult to think about losing something when you don’t even have it. I didn’t win the championship. How can I lose something that I didn’t even achieve?”
Antonelli and Russell have shown a friendly, almost brotherly relationship in the past. But things got heated when the two raced wheel-to-wheel on multiple occasions in Canada.
Now, it appears that Russell is taking a more adversarial approach. Whether or not it pays off, only time will tell.