Russell's role in Antonelli's rise, says Mercedes

Mercedes has said that Kimi Antonelli's success owes much to George Russell, as the team would not have been able to take the risk of promoting a rookie without a driver of Russell's calibre in the other seat. Antonelli replaced Lewis Hamilton, who moved to Ferrari in 2025, and went on to win nine races and become the youngest-ever Formula 1 world champion, aged 20 years and 66 days.

Team principal Toto Wolff made the point in an email to the whole factory, and deputy team principal Bradley Lord repeated it on Mercedes' Nu Silver Arrows Radio Show. Lord said the team knows Russell is capable of winning world championships, and warned against losing sight of that amid the excitement around Antonelli.

Russell's season has been more difficult, with issues outside his control limiting his challenge, though he has taken three victories this year. Lord noted it has been both his most successful and his most disappointing campaign in Formula 1.