Kimi Antonelli’s rapid rise has prompted Damon Hill to question what has happened to the George Russell seen in 2025.
Damon Hill believes that the 2025 version of George Russell has “gone missing”, a George Russell which widely impressed. At the same time, Hill says Russell’s championship-leading teammate Kimi Antonelli has “found something” in himself.
In the opinion of Juan Pablo Montoya,is the “faster” of the Mercedes drivers, but may be concerned over the Antonelli hype, and his own security with Mercedes. Russell went into F1 2026 as the title favourite. Not only due to the fancied Mercedes package, but also in a nod to his consistently strong 2025 season, one which made many people believe that he was ready to win the championship. Russell has long since believed that he is ready.
However, it is Antonelli who has opened up an early lead at the top of the Drivers’ Championship. Mercedes’ Italian teenage star has won three grands prix in a row to move 20 points clear of Russell.
“He has found something in himself,” Hill, the 1996 world champion, said of Antonelli on the BBC Chequered Flag podcast. “But we did see a bit of a wild kid coming into Formula 1. When he went to Monza and he crashed and all these things, and he struggled a little bit last year. ” Seven-time grand prix winner Juan Pablo Montoya credits Peter Bonnington – affectionately know as ‘Bono’ – as a key contributor to Antonelli’s development.
Bonnington served as race engineer to Antonelli’s predecessor Lewis Hamilton throughout his six championship wins.
“Bono has won so much with Lewis, and I think he’s moulding Kimi and working with Kimi, just bits and pieces. ” Antonelli claimed his third F1 victory in Miami, on a race weekend where Russell struggled over one lap and in the race to match his younger teammate.
However, Montoya watched the respective approaches of the Mercedes drivers, and felt that Russell could have taken a leaf out of Antonelli’s playbook in qualifying.
“What Kimi has, which is really good, is the aggression level. He is determined,” said Montoya.
“If you look at him in qualifying, the amount of track he was using compared with everybody else, he was using the whole track. “For me, I was kind of surprised when you look at George, and George has the videos, the data and everything, and he can see where Kimi is going and everything. At some point, you need to try it.
“Whether you’re comfortable or not is a different story. But you really, at least, need to stick it out there for a lap and see how you can make it work. ” Russell did start F1 2026 as seemingly the stronger of the Mercedes drivers. He won the Australian Grand Prix from pole, and looked favourite for the P1 grid slot in China until a technical gremlin disrupted his Q3, restricting him to second.
With Russell caught up battling the Ferraris of Hamilton and Charles Leclerc, Antonelli was able to scamper away out front and take a maiden grand prix win. Antonelli had the one-lap edge over Russell in Japan, though an ideally-timed Safety Car gave Antonelli a big helping hand to victory.
“I think the George from last year, I think he’s gone missing a little bit. Is Kimi Antonelli now favourite to win the 2026 World Championship? Montoya stated his belief that Russell is “quicker than” Antonelli, and offered his theories for why Russell may be struggling a little.
“Kimi is very good at hustling the hell out of the car, but George can put that ultimate lap and be very clean,” Montoya continued. “But the problem is, I think he’s more concerned about all the noise with Kimi, and I don’t know, maybe by just getting a one-year deal, his mindset is in the wrong place. “Because when they give you a one-year deal, they’re telling you, we’re going to extend you, but we’re not sure about you.
” Russell has made it clear that he will be a Mercedes driver in 2027, as long as he performs this season.broadcast channel on WhatsAppGeorge Russell tries ‘quite drastic changes’ as Mercedes experiments emergeKimi Antonelli has won three races out of four. There's a long way to go, but is he now your pick for the Drivers' title?
Please follow us on Google to support us United Kingdom Latest News, United Kingdom Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Kimi Antonelli sent George Russell warning ahead of Canadian GP by F1 presenterJames Hinchcliffe believes George Russell’s strong record at the Canadian Grand Prix could halt Kimi Antonelli’s winning streak
Read more »
David Croft: Alarm bells will ring if Kimi Antonelli beats George Russell at Canadian GPDavid Croft believes George Russell must beat Kimi Antonelli at the Canadian Grand Prix to avoid alarm bells ringing at Mercedes
Read more »
'Unprofitable' Clayton-le-Moors pub to be converted into shop despite campaign to save itThe pub closed in May 2025
Read more »
Chelsea's Joao Pedro picks 'inspired' Arsenal star as his toughest opponent of 2025-26 campaignChelsea forward Joao Pedro has admitted his astonishment at the defensive prowess of Gabriel Magalhaes, naming the Arsenal centre-back as his toughest opponent this season. The Brazilian striker confessed that, despite facing elite defenders across Europe, the 'inspired' form of his compatriot has posed the ultimate test to his attacking instincts.
Read more »