George Russell Sounds Alarm on Kimi Antonelli: The Mercedes Rookie’s Struggles Exposed!
In a shocking turn of events, George Russell has stepped into the spotlight to comment on the trials and tribulations of fellow Mercedes rookie, Kimi Antonelli. As the 2025 Formula 1 season unfolds, Antonelli’s struggles have drawn significant attention, particularly during a challenging European leg that has left fans and analysts alike questioning his trajectory.
Despite a promising start that saw him snag Sprint Pole at the Miami Grand Prix and a fourth-place finish shortly after, Antonelli has only managed to secure a mere two points finishes since then. His only notable achievements were a podium finish in Canada and a tenth-place showing at the Hungarian Grand Prix. The young Italian’s campaign has been marred by four disastrous DNFs, including a catastrophic collision with Red Bull’s Max Verstappen in Austria and an unfortunate exit at the British GP, courtesy of Racing Bull’s Isack Hadjar in treacherous weather conditions.
The statistics paint a grim picture: Antonelli currently sits seventh in the drivers’ standings with just 64 points to his name, a mere 10 points ahead of Alex Albon—who’s driving a far less competitive Williams. Meanwhile, the gap between him and his teammate has ballooned to a staggering 108 points. After an initial burst of five top-six finishes in his first seven races, Antonelli is now desperate to reclaim his form at the upcoming Dutch GP.
But what’s behind this sudden decline? Russell, who has witnessed Antonelli’s performance firsthand, asserts that the rookie hasn’t lost his speed. “The fact is, his pace delta, to me, is no different, I think,” Russell stated in a bold declaration. “In Canada, I was on pole, and he qualified fourth, but he was six tenths behind me. In Belgium, he was out in Q1, and I made it to Q3 – but he was only three tenths off me.”
Russell emphasizes that while the results may suggest a downward spiral, the raw pace of Antonelli remains intact. “People look at the underlying result, but the truth is, he’s still making progress, even though we, as a team, have gone backwards. Suddenly, you’re now in the fight where a tenth can be six or seven grid spots. Before, for the positions we were fighting for, a tenth is one position,” he explained.
However, the narrative of decline isn’t solely Antonelli’s—it mirrors the performance slump of the Mercedes team as a whole. Since that promising Miami GP, Russell himself has struggled to break into the top five, finishing above it only three times in eight races, a stark contrast to his earlier run of four podiums in just six races.
Mercedes, once basking in a 46-point advantage over Ferrari, has seen that lead evaporate. By the time of the Austrian GP, Ferrari had not only caught up but surpassed the Silver Arrows, now leading by 24 points as the summer break looms. This dramatic turnaround occurred despite Charles Leclerc’s lackluster performance in Silverstone and Lewis Hamilton’s disappointing finish in Hungary.
Acknowledging his own challenges, Antonelli has taken a candid approach regarding his struggles. He revealed that a suspension change has severely impacted his confidence behind the wheel. “Since we moved to that suspension… I’ve been struggling to drive the car and getting the confidence,” he admitted. “I didn’t adapt the best because I was always trying to keep my style and to drive the car the way I wanted, but it didn’t really work out.”
As the 2025 Dutch GP approaches, the stakes have never been higher for Kimi Antonelli. With Russell’s endorsement and the weight of expectations resting on his shoulders, fans are left wondering: Can the young Italian reclaim his form, or are we witnessing the unraveling of a promising career? The racing world is watching closely as the drama continues to unfold.
