George Russell has openly declared that he "hasn't forgotten how to drive" and remains confident in his evolving championship duel with his teammate Kimi Antonelli, even though the Italian youngster clearly outpaced him at the recent Miami Grand Prix. Russell entered the season as the pre‑season favourite after seizing victory in the season‑opening Australian Grand Prix and then winning the inaugural sprint race in China. Since those early triumphs, however, he has been forced to watch Antonelli claim three consecutive Grand Prix wins, each one marking the Italian’s first career victory in the premier class.
The performance gap between the two teammates in Miami was the widest of the year. Antonelli secured pole position and went on to win the race, while Russell could only manage fourth place, finishing a staggering 43 seconds behind the 19‑year‑old Italian. That result widened Antonelli’s lead in the drivers' championship to 20 points after just four of the scheduled 22 rounds, prompting UK bookmakers to flip the odds and list the teenager as the new favourite for the title. In the immediate post‑race interview with Sky Sports F1, Russell praised his rival, saying, "He is a fantastic driver and has been exceptionally quick from day one.
He’s won every championship he’s contested as a youngster." He then reaffirmed his own belief in his abilities, adding, "I still have confidence in myself. I haven’t forgotten how to drive. It’s a tricky circuit, but we’re only four races in, there’s a long way to go and we’ll reassess things over the coming weeks." Russell’s comments also hinted at his frustration with the Miami International Autodrome.
He described the track as a "bogey" for him because its low‑grip surface does not suit his precise, smooth‑driving style. Despite that, the weekend turned out better than it might have been.
In the sprint race, Antonelli received a five‑second penalty for repeatedly exceeding track limits, which dropped him two positions and handed Russell a net gain of two points. In the main race, an unexpected spin by Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc on the penultimate lap opened the door for Russell to climb another place and claim two extra points. Reflecting on the race, Russell admitted it was a difficult weekend: "The start felt okay. In the early laps I was in the fight, then the hard tyre left me nowhere.
In the final ten laps I found some ideas, we were much more competitive. I made significant changes to the differentials and brake bias, getting closer to what Kimi was doing all weekend, and it made a bigger impact than I expected. Not a good weekend overall – this circuit is a real challenge for me.
The real test will be the next few races." Former world champion and Sky Sports F1 pundit Jenson Button believes Russell will be surprised by Antonelli’s rapid rise but remains confident that the Briton can bounce back at the next event in Canada. Button said, "George is probably thinking, ‘what just happened?’ He started the year as the favourite, the quickest driver, and Kimi is exceptionally talented.
But George is confident in his skill set and he’s not shying away from pointing out what isn’t working. If you bottle that up, it’s disastrous. He’s doing the right thing, and I think he’ll come out strong in Canada." Sky Sports analyst Naomi Schiff echoed a similar sentiment, noting that Antonelli has already shown vulnerability, such as the mistakes that cost him in the sprint race. "He’s a hard worker, but no driver wants to be beaten by their teammate, especially not George," Schiff said.
"He spent years at Williams before moving to Mercedes, finally getting a competitive car, only to have his teammate outpace him. He’ll find reassurance in the fact that Kimi isn’t flawless and will make errors this season. George’s consistency could be his biggest asset, even if Kimi’s raw speed is intimidating.
It’s tough, but I’m sure George can rebound." Looking ahead, the Formula 1 calendar now heads to Montreal for the Canadian Grand Prix, which will also feature a sprint race. The event is scheduled for May 22‑24 and will be broadcast live on Sky Sports F1, with streaming options available through NOW without a long‑term contract. Russell will aim to close the points gap, fine‑tune his car setup for low‑grip circuits, and prove that his early‑season dominance was not a fluke.
Antonelli, meanwhile, will look to extend his impressive streak and cement his status as a rising star. The battle between the two Mercedes drivers promises to be one of the season’s most compelling storylines, offering fans a blend of youthful exuberance and experienced determination as the championship race intensifies.